Fishing for a healthy protein alternative? Look to the sea
Aug 30, 2013
Oceans account for more than 70 per cent of the Earth. But it’s what’s inside our oceans that can can help shipping crew maintain a healthy weight and a balanced diet. No, I’m not talking about water. Today’s focus is fish. Many health experts and organizations recommend eating fish at least twice a week. And the reasons are plentiful.
Eating fish can do wonders for the eyes and the nervous system. Fish can help to keep the heart working well — thanks to its fatty acids — and may aid in brain development. If you want to reduce the likelihood of heart problems, you might consider reaching for sardines instead of steak. Health experts and doctors are also telling people to squeeze fish into their diets because it’s protein rich and isn’t packed with a lot of fat.
Picking the “right” fish for you
Of course, one very good reason to eat fish is that it’s tasty and flavourful. Our research shows that when choosing a fish, your best bet is to select one of the fattier varieties. The American Heart Association’s list of go-to fatty fish includes “salmon, mackerel, herring, lake trout, sardines and albacore tuna.” So the next time you’re preparing a meal plan, consider adding one or more of those to your grocery cart.
Avoiding mercury in fish
One potential downside associated with eating fish is mercury. Mercury is a naturally occurring metal, but it’s also a byproduct of industrial activities. Excessive exposure to mercury may cause health problems for adults, including diabetes.
Fish absorb what’s in their environment and so ingesting fish may increase the level of mercury in your body. Also, mercury levels can increase as you climb the fish food chain. How, you ask? Well, a small fish absorbs some mercury and is eaten by a bigger fish. The bigger fish has now absorbed the mercury in any of the smaller fish it eats and is absorbing mercury through the water.
According to Health Canada, some of the fish to avoid if you’re worried about mercury include:
Fresh or frozen tuna
Swordfish
marlin
orange roughy
escolar
Make fish a part of your marine catering experience
Global Catering Canada provide crews with healthy meals at a reasonable cost. As marine and maritime catering experts, we believe that serving fish to shipping crew, on cargo ships or offshore platforms, is good way to keep them healthy and fit and we encourage you to promote it as a healthy protein alternative.
Sources:
Health CanadaEat Right OntarioGlobe and MailDiscovery: Fit & HealthAmerican Heart AssociationSardines image by Andrea Nguyen via Flickr/Creative Commons
