Top 5 Fish to Eat and Why Should We Eat Them

It is a key part of a healthy diet. Dietitians recommend two servings of 4 ounces or one serving of 8 ounces of fish per week, as a bare minimum. UnityPoint Health dietitian Elaine Kay Mitchell, MPH, RD/LD, CDE, explains the risks and benefits of eating fish, plus the five types best to add to your diet.

The Health Benefits of Fish

Eating fish is associated with the health benefits of lowering triglycerides, blood pressure, inflammation, macular degeneration and reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke. It also provides a lean source of omega-3 fatty acids, proteins and minerals. Omega-3s are good fats your body can’t make itself. There are numerous health benefits of omega-3s, as they are known to help strengthen the mind and ease movement by the body. Some studies also suggest they reduce the risk of heart disease. Salmon, sardines, tuna, herring and trout are fish high in omega-3s. Haddock, tilapia, pollock, catfish, flounder, and halibut are leaner fish. However, Mitchell suggests making sure to have a mix of both fatty and lean fish in your seafood diet.

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Mitchell’s Top 5 Best Fish to Eat for Health

1.     Salmon (especially freshwater salmon or pacific salmon from Alaska)

2.     Sardines

3.     Rainbow trout

4.     Tuna

5.     Tilapia

“Most people I see with diabetes diabetes have heard me strongly suggest salmon be part of their diet once a week because salmon nutrition helps in the prevention of macular degeneration,” Mitchell says.

That’s why it’s number one on her top five healthy fish selections. The other four selections are good sources of omega 3 fatty acids, easy to prepare and are available in most locations.

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The best source of vitamin

Fish is a natural source of vitamin D. In fact, it is chock full of it. What you basically need vitamin D for is to help your body absorb all other sorts of nutrients, and to maintain overall health. Eating fish aids this need of the body, so you should definitely depend on this food for vitamin D.

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Fight depression

From omega-3 fatty acids and DHA to vitamin D, all the components of fish can help you keep mental health issues at bay. Fish is a natural anti-depressant and can help you fight depression and mood swings. So, eating fish can actually keep you happier and healthier.

“If cost is not an issue, fresh yellow-fin tuna is the fish world’s answer to a steak. It is excellent and worth trying at least once,” Mitchell says.

The Risks of Eating Fish

The health benefits of a seafood diet outweigh the risks, which mostly have to do with preparation.

“Fish can contain salmonella and bacterium, which cooking will kill when the temperature of 145 degrees is obtained, and the fish is opaque and separates as flakes. Shellfish will open when cooked enough. Foodborne illness may occur if fish is kept too long, stored improperly or undercooked,” Mitchell says.

There are some poisonous species that are edible, such as blowfish and stonefish. Mitchell says when ingesting these fish, the preparation has to be done perfectly in order to not be deadly.

When it comes to the risk of eating raw fish, like sushi, there are some precautions. Mitchell says the source sushi comes from is extremely important. You’ll want to make sure it’s fresh and it’s been handled properly, or there is a risk of food poisoning.

Also, low risk of major diseases.

If you eat this regularly, you can keep the risk of autoimmune diseases like diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis at bay. This is a one-stop source of so many vital nutrients that it can maintain a healthy balance in your body, and help fight all sorts of major diseases.

Apart from these benefits, eating this can also improve your metabolism, sleep quality, skin quality, concentration, and alleviate inflammation. With so many health benefits, and the flavor-factor attached, there are enough reasons for you to start indulging in fish for the rest of your life.

Fish to Avoid When Pregnant

“Persons who are pregnant, who have a depressed immune system or who are very young or very old should not eat sushi because of the bacteria raw fish may carry. Freezing the raw of this before preparing it can prevent some problems, but not all,” Mitchell says.

Pregnant women should also avoid shark, King Mackerel, swordfish, and tilefish due to their higher mercury content. Albacore tuna does have some mercury, but Mitchell says 8 ounces of albacore tuna per week is perfectly safe for pregnant women. All other seafood while pregnant is safe and should be a priority in an expectant mom’s diet because it has positive effects on the development of a child’s brain.

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Introducing Kids to This:

Most kids get their first taste of this by eating fishing sticks. However, frying and adding batter changes to this from a lean protein into one that has fat. The nutrient value of this is still the same, except for the added fat and calories. Mitchell suggests checking the fish nutrition facts on labels to see how much fish versus breading is in a portion. Fishing sticks can easily be prepared at home with a light batter.

“Children will eat more this if they get a chance to go fishing or see their parents choosing to eat this,” Mitchell says.

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