You’d never know it by visiting the website of the American Heart Association or reading an abundance of magazine or newspaper articles. All of which advocate eating 3-5 servings of fish per week to increase your intake of omega-3 fatty acids. Yet, due to methyl mercury and PCB pesticides both the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have issued health warnings against consuming fish more than 2 servings or one 6 oz. can of tuna per week, especially if you are pregnant, nursing or a child .
     How did fish, one of the healthiest meats on the planet become contaminated with high enough levels of poisonings to cause warnings to be issued by the FDA and the EPA? Some of the problem has come from the tons of mercury released into the air each year through pollution and waste. Yet, more of a problem is the vast majority of fish consumed in restaurants and purchased at grocery stores that come from fish farms.
     Almost half the salmon, 40% of the mollusks, and 65% of the freshwater fish consumed today are raised on fish farms. These numbers are likely to increase as fish farming is a multimillion-dollar industry, and has become one of the fastest growing sections of the food production market. It is also fraught with problems that are producing fish high in mercury and PCB poisoning and fish filled with antibiotics, hormones and chemicals.
     Dr. Joseph Mercola, who has studied the safety of eating fish, has pointed out that in order to be profitable, fish farms must raise large quantities of fish in confined areas. He tells us this leads to overcrowding, which in turn, results in disease and injuries to fish. The fish are then given antibiotics and chemicals to fight the disease and parasites (sea lice, skin and gill infections, etc.). Dr. Mercola further points out that these farm raised fish are also given drugs and hormones, and sometimes genetically modified to accelerate growth and change reproductive behaviors. Farm raised salmon are also given chemicals to turn their flesh pink so they are more marketable. Wild salmon eat a diet of fresh shrimp and krill, which naturally turn their flesh pink. Farm raised salmon do not eat a natural diet, so their flesh would be grey if they were not given these chemical additives.
     There are sources for fresh fish that are tested for mercury and other chemical poisoning. They are not farm raised. How to find them? You must ask your grocer if the fish is tested and ask to see proof of that testing. There are companies you can order these fish from; just be prepared to pay a hefty sum of money for them!
     Currently the safest and most economical way to increase your omega- 3 intake is take supplements. There are points to consider when choosing your omega- 3 supplements. See the “Facts” chart on page 7. Keep in mind omega-3 fatty acids are currently the ONLY important dietary supplement that is safer, less expensive and healthier to take in capsule form than it is to get from a food source! OneLife’s Something Smells Fishy and Super Flaxseed + Greens are your best choices to boost your omega-3’s. OneLife products are independently tested. click here for more info.