Although fish can be an incredibly healthy addition to your diet, there are a few species that contain unsafe levels of mercury and other contaminants like PCBs and should be avoided.
As a general rule, avoid regularly eating any type of tuna, shark, King mackerel, swordfish, and farm raised salmon. Wild salmon is highly nutritious - when you see it noted on a menu, take full advantage!
One average piece of sushi (fish with rice) provides 70 calories, one average piece of sashimi (fish without rice) provides 40 calories. Here's a quick summary on fish to enjoy and avoid.
Fish to enjoy:
- Akagai (ark shell)
- Aoyagi (round clam)
- Awabi (abalone)
- Ayu (sweetfish)
- Ebi (shrimp)
- Hamaguri (clam)
- Hatahata (sandfish)
- Himo (ark shell)
- Hokkigai (surf clam)
- Hotategai (scallop)
- Ika (squid)
- Ikura (salmon roe)
- Kaibashira (shellfish)
- Kani (crab)
- Karei (flatfish)
- Kohada (gizzard shad)
- Masago (smelt egg)
- Masu (trout)
- Mirugai (surf clam)
- Wild Sake (wild salmon)
- Sayori (halfbeak)
- Shako (mantis shrimp)
- Tai (sea bream)
- Tairagai (razor-shell clam)
- Tako (octopus)
- Tobikko (flying fish egg)
- Torigai (cockle)
- Tsubugai (shellfish)
- Uni (sea urchin roe)
Fish to avoid:
- Ahi (yellowfin tuna)
- Aji (horse mackerel)
- Buri (adult yellowtail)
- Hamachi (young yellowtail)
- Inada (very young yellowtail)
- Kanpachi (very young yellowtail)
- Katsuo (bonito)
- Kajiki (swordfish)
- Maguro (bigeye, bluefin or yellowfin tuna)
- Makjiki (blue marlin)
- Meji (young bigeye, bluefin or yellowfin tuna)
- Saba (mackerel)
- Sawara (Spanish mackerel)
- Seigo (young sea bass)
- Shiro (albacore tuna)
- Suzuki (sea bass)
- Toro (bigeye, bluefin or yellowfin tuna)
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"One caveat concerning fish consumption is that fish may contain harmful chemical contaminants, such as mercury (also known as methylmercury), dioxins, and polychlorinated biphenyls. Methylmercury tends to accumulate in the tissues of some species, especially larger, predatory fish. Methylmercury can potentially disrupt the development of the nervous system in fetuses and infants. But for most people, the potential benefits of moderate fish consumption far outweigh the potential risks of various contaminants. However, if you are pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or a nursing mother, avoid eating king mackerel, swordfish, shark, and tilefish (sold as golden snapper or golden bass). These fish may contain amounts of mercury harmful to breast-fed infants and babies in the womb. On the other hand, at least one scientific study suggests that low seafood intake during pregnancy impairs optimal brain development of children. Healthy seafood components, such as omega-3 fatty acids, may be very beneficial to nervous system growth of the baby in the womb. To complicate things further, not all tuna are created equal. Albacore (white) tuna is a good source of the healthy omega-3 fatty acids, but tends to have three times higher mercury levels than “light tuna,” which has much less omega-3s. Fish oil capsules, on the other hand, contain no mercury. If you eat lots of locally caught freshwater fish, especially if you are a woman of childbearing age, check with your regional governmental authorities regarding contaminants. In the United States, the appropriate state agency is usually the Health Department or Game and Fish Department. Please don’t reject fish consumption altogether as too risky and confusing. Adult medical problems attributable to chemical fish contamination are exceedingly rare." -----Steve Parker, M.D.
Russ
russ@healthforwardonline.com