All Things Fish

I am a huge fan of fish and all things seafood. Fish is a much healthier way to incorporate protein into your diet. Sea bass, for example, contains 19 grams of protein compared to chicken's 21 grams, but sea bass only contains 4 grams of fat and 114 calories per serving compared to chicken's 7 grams of fat and 190 calories, and that's without skin. Add chicken skin and you're up to 14 grams of fat and 239 calories per serving. If this is the comparison with chicken, imagine its match-up with beef.
But sometimes I feel like there is a stigma behind fish and seafood. Maybe because people are confused with what to buy or where to buy it. Maybe people are put off by the high price of quality seafood. I've even had people ask me about mercury in fish and their concerns for their family. Well let me put it to you straight and answer some fishy questions.

1) Wild vs. Farmed
Okay, so this is a tough question with no black or white answer. We buy most of our fish either at an Asian grocery store called H-Mart or through my husband's fish vendor. Those suppliers may carry farmed fish with little to no regulation of the fish's diet. In those instances, we always buy fresh. And this next statement may shock some people, but the fresh fish that we purchase at H-Mart is most likely the same fresh fish that is sold at let's say, Whole Foods. Sometimes, my husband and I will even joke that the same delivery truck will drop off fish to one store and then drop off the same type of fish at another store that charges twice as much. I'm not saying this to deter anyone from shopping at all-natural markets, but I think it's important to know what you're buying and how you can save money. However, if I am making something that calls for fish that may only be farm-raised (for whatever reason), I will spend the extra money and purchase it at a more reputable store. Some additional benefits to buying reputable farm-raised fish is allowing fresh fish to replenish themselves, helping the overall fish population.

2) What is mercury or methylmercury?
Mercury occurs naturally in the environment and can also be released into the air through industrial pollution. Mercury falls from the air and can accumulate in streams and oceans and is turned into methylmercury in the water. It is this type of mercury that can be harmful to your unborn baby and young child. Fish absorb the methylmercury as they feed in these waters and so it builds up in them. It builds up more in some types of fish and shellfish than others, depending on what the fish eat, which is why the levels vary.
Is there methylmercury in all fish and shellfish?
Nearly all fish and shellfish contain traces of methylmercury. However, larger fish that have lived longer have the highest levels of methylmercury because they've had more time to accumulate it. These large fish (swordfish, shark, king mackerel and tilefish) pose the greatest risk.
For a full list of mercury levels in commercial fish and shellfish, click the link below.
http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodSafety/Product-SpecificInformation/Seafood/FoodbornePathogensContaminants/Methylmercury/ucm115644.htm

3) Quality fish and seafood can be expensive, and when you are trying to stick to a budget, it's easy to cross these items off your list. But it is possible to include fish in your weekly meals without it consuming your budget. Just like higher quality meats, sometimes eating fish and seafood means not making it the star of the meal.