Nutrition 101 - Eat wild-caught fish and free-range, organic meat and eggs

When choosing to eat fish or land-based animals and their by-products, it is a good idea to be mindful of where and how they were raised. Certain types of fish and many conventionally raised animals may contain toxins primarily because of what they eat. For instance, polychlorinated biphenyle chemicals (PCB's) that are used for making dyes and paints, as well as many other products, still linger in the environment and are found in the tissues of fish and land animals despite having been banned in the 1970's.1

In addition, the high mercury content in fish may be problematic.1 Wild fish generally contain fewer heavy metals and pesticides than farm raised fish, and are not as likely to be genetically modified.2 On the other hand, most farm raised salmon are fed diced fish that have consumed PCB's from the environment.1 Cold water fish like wild-caught salmon have more omega-3 fat than farm-raised Atlantic salmon.3

The Environmental Defense Fund lists the following fish as having the most favorable impact on our health and the least harmful impact on the environment:

Salmon
Mahi-mahi
Tilapia
Striped bass
Halibut
Herring
Catfish
Arctic char
Abalone2

Being selective about meats and other animals products may be beneficial, as well. Eating land animals that have been raised humanely and have been organically or grass fed may be important to our long term health. The animal's health and well-being is directly connected to the health of the meat, the eggs, and other by-products they generate. The health of these foods directly impacts our own health.1 It is also important to remember to eat lean meats, as toxins are stored in the fatty parts of the animals.2 Further, organic meats will contain far fewer toxins than meats from conventionally raised animals.

1Rubin, J. 2005. The great physician's rx for health & wellness. Thomas Nelson: Nashville.
2Light, L. 2006. What to eat: the ten things you really need to know to eat well and be healthy! McGraw-Hill: New York.
3Colbert, D. 2007. The seven pillars of health. Strang: Lake Mary, Florida.