For almost as long as humans have been around, we have been cooking our food. When people picture prehistoric humans, they imagine cavemen roasting mammoth meat around the fire. But fish was also an important part of our diet; 780,000 years ago, we were even cooking it in ovens.
Fish is superior to meat in every way. It’s lean, packed with important nutrients, and easier to digest. That said, there are healthy fish and fish that will leave you with a greasy feeling in your stomach.
What is the healthiest fish to eat? Read on as we discuss your options for eating fish.
What Is the Healthiest Fish to Eat?
The answer is Alaskan sockeye salmon. Is salmon healthy? Without a doubt; this is one of the best options when choosing a fish to eat.
Salmon has practically everything your body needs as the main dish in your meal. It contains tons of healthy fats, with a high concentration of calories. If you get it wild-caught, it has significantly higher levels of protein.
Vitamins and minerals in salmon are plentiful. You get all the essential B vitamins, phosphorus, and selenium.
Where salmon excels most is with omega-3 fatty acids. Of all the fats you can consume, this is the healthiest. It contributes to a strong heart, promotes brain health, and reduces inflammation.
Is Eating Fish Healthy?
Generally speaking, eating fish is much healthier than meat. But there are a few caveats.
Number one, fish contain an above-average quantity of mercury, specifically methylmercury. Methylmercury is highly toxic, originating from sediment in riverbeds and ocean floors. It appears in the organisms of many fish that humans consume.
That said, this doesn’t mean you should abstain from eating fish. Rather, you should moderate your intake. It’s not healthy to eat salmon multiple times per day for several days in a row.
Second, fish are at a high risk of contamination from salmonella and E. coli. Be sure to clean your fish and throw it out when it passes expiration.
Canned vs. Wild-Caught Salmon
Generally speaking, wild-caught salmon is preferable in almost every situation. It is more expensive, but the benefit may well outweigh the cost.
Canned salmon is acceptable to eat. It’s much cheaper, making it affordable for low-income families.
However, be aware that the risk of contamination is higher in canned varieties. Canned salmon tends to have higher levels of lead and mercury.
As with any type of salmon, you should limit your intake to prevent overexposure to these toxic chemicals. Your body is capable of processing out mercury if, as we’ve said before, you limit your intake. Eating fish on a daily basis does not give your liver enough time to clean it from your system.
Eat Healthy Fish Today
What is the healthiest fish to eat? The answer is salmon, a delicious type of river-native fish found mostly in Alaska. Salmon are high in all the most important nutrients–but don’t eat too much, as they contain trace amounts of mercury.
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