Eat these fish to avoid heavy metal poisoning!
Fish is, by far, the healthiest of the proteins. It contains a hefty dose of amino acids per serving, with a lot less fat than you get in other animal proteins. It’s also rich in minerals, vitamins, and fatty acids that contribute to optimal health. But there is also a danger with fish: heavy metals and toxins. Ocean pollution is a HUGE problem, and it can do more than just kill a lot of animals. Fish can absorb these heavy metals and toxins and pass them on to you if you eat them, which it’s vital that you find only the safest fish to eat.
A few of the fish you’ll want to avoid include:
- Shark
- Tilefish
- Swordfish
- Albacore tuna
- King mackerel
Thankfully, these are the less common fish options, but there are many safe fish you actually can eat. Here are the five safest fish to eat:
Canned Tuna — How is canned tuna any safer than fresh albacore tuna? Well, during the packaging process, the fish is tested to determine its heavy metal content. If the fish is contaminated, it cannot be used. Thus, canned fish is generally fairly safe to eat. That being said, if you want to eat only the fish with the least amount of toxins and heavy metals, stick with “light” canned tuna. The whiter the meat, the lower the risk of mercury poison, and the higher the Omega-3 content.
Sardines — Few other fish contain the same amount of Omega-3 fatty acids as sardines, making them one of the healthiest fish on the planet. Thankfully, sardines are usually canned, which means they undergo the same rigorous screening process that tuna has to go through. They’re also much cheaper than most of the fresh fish options, and a single can of sardines can stretch for two or three meals. Definitely the way to go!
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Farmed Rainbow Trout — When it comes to trout, you need to understand that lake trout is the kind most likely to be contaminated. Make sure that you ONLY eat farmed trout, as they are grown in safe, contamination-free environments and have a much lower chance of being polluted. Trout is a fatty fish that is loaded with healthy Omega-3 fatty acids, as well as plenty if protein. Definitely one of the fish to add to your daily diet!
Salmon — Salmon may be the most expensive of the fish, but it’s also the healthiest. It contains more Omega-3 fatty acids per serving than nearly every other food on the planet, and it’s loaded with B vitamins, Vitamin D, selenium, and many other important minerals. Wild Pacific salmon are the kind least likely to be contaminated, but you should be careful of farmed salmon and any salmon from the Atlantic. With just a few ounces of salmon per week, you can seriously improve your health!
Anchovies — If you weren’t already putting these bad boys on your pizza, now you have a legitimate reason to! Anchovies contain plenty of Omega-3 fatty acids and protein, along with the minerals and vitamins that make fish such a healthy choice. They’re also very small, so there is a very low risk of their meat being contaminated with heavy metals. They’re an amazing source of iron to improve your circulation, making them a very healthy option.
If you are looking to add fish to your weekly meal plan, these five fish are the best for you. They’re least likely to put you in danger, but they’ll add A LOT of nutrition to your meals!
