Pros & Cons
of
Fish in general is a very healthy kind of food. Many healthy food fishes have been found to be a good source of a number of important nutrients. You will find that there are delicious and healthy fish recipes and combinations that are easy to do and also easy to love. Most fish contain two different types of omega-3, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for a healthy heart and lowering bad cholesterol. In many healthy food recipes, these are some staple fish listed. However, eating too much fish can also be detrimental to your health if you have it too much. Fish tends to be at risk for carrying mercury, which can be especially harmful for pregnant women, causing birth defects in their unborn babies. Additionally, some farmed fish, especially salmon, has been shown to have high levels of dioxins and PCBs. These are chemical by-products of industrial processes that can cause liver damage and developmental problems in children.
Because mercury builds up and transfers from animal to animal, fish higher up the food chain can carry higher levels of the toxin than lower-level consumers. Big fish, such shark, king mackerel, orange roughy, and swordfish usually have more mercury in their systems than things like tilapia, salmon, whitefish, and freshwater trout.
Lastly, some people are choosing to take fish oil supplements for their healthy fatty acids rather than eating the animals themselves. This is because many species are in danger of being overfished and other things like habitat destruction is leading to a loss of a number of aquatic animals. However, you can check to see the population levels of fish or you can turn to consuming farmraised fish to help protect the environment and its denizens. Source: The Pros and Cons of Eating Fish by Joseph Devine