I know how good wild-caught fish can be for our health; truthfully, sometimes the boring fishiness makes me turn my nose up and run! For me it is all about the other flavors you add to the fish that make my taste buds happy!

With all of the research out, we can agree fish is good for us and that wild-caught is better but do you know why?  From a nutritional stand point fish is a great source of protein and has some of the good fats we all need.

As a general rule we personally choose wild-caught fish unless we know the fish is sustainably farmed like through some of the fish farms  Wholefoods uses {click to learn more about responsible fish farming}  .

Many studies have found high levels of PCB’s, a potentially carcinogenetic chemical, in farm raised fish.  Not to mention, some farmed fish is giving us an extra dose of antibiotics, harmful dyes, and other chemicals from fish feed that is genetically modified!  It all sounds a bit fishy to me too {wink wink}!  So what’s a girl to do?!  Know your options, knowledge is power and in this case health.

Mercury is another concern we hear about and is higher in swordfish, king mackerel, tilefish {Gulf of Mexico}, shark, northern pike and tuna which are all wild-caught fish. You can see there are several things to take into consideration before ordering, buying and eating fish.  Some of the fish/seafood we like that are naturally lower in mercury are shrimp, cod, salmon, and tilapia.

With the many heavy metals we see in lab tests with patients at the Natural Medicine Clinic, mercury has to be the most common and can wreak havoc on our health and particularly toxic to our nervous system.  Do not forget these toxins can affect the unborn fetus and nursing mothers should be conscience about what type of fish to eat. Even the FDA recommends pregnant and breastfeeding woman limit their intake of high mercury seafood and fish; we should heed to such warning!

However, it is such a conundrum because we all know nutritionally pregnant moms and people in general need the good fats that fish can offer like omega 3 fatty acids which foster healthy fetal, infant and brain development.  It is one of the supplements we most often recommend for people because it covers an array of nutritional needs.

The essential fats EPA and DHA in fish oil help maintain and support soft tissue and connective tissue. Fish oil helps promote cartilage and joint function and relieves mild mood changes and cramps associated with the menstrual cycle {gasp be right back I need my fishy oil}. Actually, it doesn’t taste fishy at all; we have a few options of fish oil capsules and I promise it doesn’t taste bad!

For more details on the fish oil we have had great success with click here. I should mention it is wise to purchase fish oil supplement that is assayed {tested} by a third party so that you know there is NO FISHY BUSINESS going on with extra toxins like heavy metals.  So with that said it is all about the type of fish, its origin, if you are with child or even if you are being conscience about these toxins as to the type of fish you should eat for overall health.

Also, if you want to know what heavy metals {lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, and chromium} are lurking in your body the Doc uses the most accurate testing available. We have seen levels drop dramatically with in a few short months with some holistic approaches.  Symptoms can range from nervous system issues like numbness, tingling, weakness in hands feet, anemia, hair loss, kidney damage, memory loss, behavioral changes and premature labor or miscarriage.

Let’s put this into perspective and not blame it all on fish, we can be exposed to these heavy metals from fire retardants, in the workplace, vaccines and small amounts through other foods, water, air, handling of toys or costume jewelry. Arsenic for instance is found in rice naturally {organic or not} and that is one reason we are not big rice fans.

There are several chemical elements found naturally in the earth but it is the accumulation in our body that makes it a tougher job for the organs to eliminate these toxins. There are specific steps to cleanse from these heavy metals but should be guided by a knowledgeable doctor. We would be honored to help you in your health journey.

With a Spoonful of Health,