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From Other About Guides Flaxseed Oil for Dry EyesFish Oil and a Healthy HeartOmega 3 Oils and Bipolar Disorder Elsewhere on the Web Fish Consumption and Cardiovascular DiseaseOmega EggsHealthy Beef Q and A Related Blogs Center for Science In The Public InterestMSN Search News: Nutrition Newswise: MedNewsNubella News HeadlinesNutrition Journal Most Popular Women's Nutrition Guide -How Many Calories do I Need?Hydration Calculator - How Much Water do You Need?Do You Have a Healthy Diet? Take this Screening Quiz to Find...A Balanced DietNutrition Guide - Guide for Nutrition and Calorie Need Related Sites Weight LossLow Carb DietsLow Fat CookingVegetarian CuisineAlternative Medicine Good Fish, Bad Fish From Shereen Jegtvig, Your Guide to Nutrition. FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! When Fish Isn't the Best Source for Fish Oil Why Fish is Good for Us It is well know that the omega 3 essential fatty acids found in fish, especially oily fish from cold waters, have many healthy benefits. Omega 3 essential fatty acids will: * help reduce inflammation * decrease the likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease * help to control our cholesterol * help people with depression and anxiety disorders * help infants' brains and eyes to develop and function properly * help to heal dry skin. How Can Fish Be Bad? Fish is naturally high in protein, low in bad fats, and a great source of omega 3 essential fatty acids, so it sounds hard to believe that fish could be bad for us. Especially since the American Heart Association suggests we eat lots of fish. The biggest problem with eating a lot of fish is the possibility of mercury consumption. Sponsored Links Fish Oil - WarningDon't Take Fish Oil Before Reading This !omega3info.net The Sardine DietSecret to losing weight, fighting disease and staying healthy.www.sardinediet.com Tuna InformationLearn about Tuna, and the current mercury controversy.www.HealthPolitics.com Most bodies of water are polluted with mercury, so almost all fish and seafood is at risk of containing dangerous levels of mercury. Interestingly, one study found that frying fish may actually increase the concentration of mercury in the fish. Mercury contamination is bad for people who have elevated levels of mercury in their bodies, and for pregnant or nursing women. Elevated levels of mercury can lead to nervous system problems with brain or nerve damage. Mercury levels can be measured by blood tests, or tests using hair. Besides mercury, fish can be a problem if it isn't prepared properly. Deep fried or served with a heavy fat and calorie dense sauce will turn a healthy food into an unhealthy meal fast. Another potential problem is eating undercooked fish, which may lead to a parasite infection. Unless you are skilled with sushi, make sure you cook your fish until it is flaky and tender, with no sign of translucency to the meat. How Much Fish can I Eat? It depends.... If you are pregnant or nursing, use nutritional supplements to get your omega 3 essenial fatty acids. It just isn't worth taking a chance on passing the mercury to your baby. For the rest of us, if you are an adult and healthy, then you can eat 2 or 3 servings of oily ocean fish per week. Also, most of us can enjoy farm-raised fish as often as we want, since they are not as generally not as contaminated as wild fish. One caveat, however, is that farm raised fish may not contain as much omega 3 essential fatty acids as wild fish. For wild fish, check this list for the best and worst ocean fish to eat. If you have any inflammatory disorders, chronic fatigue syndrome, candida syndrome, or really any type of chronic health disorder, I suggest you get your Omega 3 essential fatty acids from sources other than fish. Other Sources of Omega 3 Essential Fatty Acids If you are pregnant, nursing, or have problems with mercury or other heavy metals, you should get your omega 3 essential fatty acids from other sources. The easiest way to get enough omega 3 essential fatty acids is to purchase omega 3 essential fatty acid supplements which have had any impurities and toxic metals like mercury removed, and add these supplements to your diet. Other ways to increase your omega 3 essential fatty acid intake is to incorporate some of these other sources of omega 3 essential fatty acids into your diet: * flax oil or seeds * pumpkin seeds * walnuts or walnut oil * grass fed beef * eggs from naturally grazing hens Surprised about the eggs and beef? Well, it turns out that animals raised on their natural foods are healthier, and healthier animals have healthier, higher quality meat and even some omega 3 essential fatty acids. Some examples of healthy meals that offer omega 3 essential fatty acids: Breakfast Whole grain toast drizzled with walnut oil and spread with honey, one hard-boiled natural-grazing hen egg, with water or juice. Lunch Hamburger cooked with grass fed beef served on a whole grain roll with tomato, lettuce, red onion, add a glass of water with a slice of lemon or lime in it. Dinner Chef Salad made with a variety of healthy vegetables, naturally grazing hen eggs, walnuts or other nuts, and top with a salad dressing made with walnut oil. Add some fresh whole grain bread with walnut dipping oil (just use walnut oil with some grated nutmeg, basil, or any favorite herb or seasoning). Top off the meal with a small glass of wine (4 ounces), and water, with some herbal tea for after dinner. Snacks An apple and a handful of pumpkin seeds. Hard boiled egg from the naturally grazing hens and a dozen walnuts. Updated: May 25, 2006 Important disclaimer information about this About site. Suggested Reading Top Omega 3 OilsAnti-Inflammatory DietWhat is an Essential Fatty Acid? From Other About Guides Flaxseed Oil for Dry EyesFish Oil and a Healthy HeartOmega 3 Oils and Bipolar Disorder Elsewhere on the Web Fish Consumption and Cardiovascular DiseaseOmega EggsHealthy Beef Q and A Sponsored Links Omega 3 Fish Oil GuideDirectory Of Omega 3 Fish Oils. Find Omega 3 Fish Oils Quickly.Omega3FishOils.Vitamin-Insight.com Quality Seal Oil CapsulesProducts of Omega 3 Fatty Acids Professional Provider in Canadawww.omegavite.com Omega-3 Rich Salmon OilPharmaceutical Grade Sockeye Salmon Oil. Rich With Healthful Omega-3's.www.brownwoodacres.com/express2.htm Premium Omega-3 - DHA/EPAPure Norwegian Deep-sea Virgin Salmon Fish Oil Gelcaps. Now $12.95www.nu-gen.com Omega 3 fish oilFish oil producer and trader : Omega 3, 18/12, tuna, cod liver oilwww.winterisation.com The Facts on Bipolar What Is Bipolar Disorder?Bipolar Red FlagsWhat Causes Bipolar?Mania Warning Signs10 Medication Safety Tips What's Hot Good Fish, Bad FishBeer QuizHydration CalculatorWeekly Quick QuizCalorie Counting Quiz Advertisement All Topics | Email Article | Print | |