6 Types Of Fish That You Should Not Eat

There are fish with a high fat content, which leads to the accumulation of high levels of mercury, thus becoming a food that is harmful to health.

One of the healthiest and most delicious foods in the world is fish.  In addition, it is usually the health link, a more than enough argument for doctors and nutrition professionals when it comes to prescribing a food product. However, there are many things related to some fish that are little known, and one of them is mercury. Know what it is?

Mercury and fish

Over time,  various investigations have been responsible for confirming the presence of heavy metals in fish organisms. Among them, methylmercury (an organic compound derived from mercury) stands out. As this article in the Chilean Medical Journal explains, its effects are alarming, which is why it has become a public health problem:

Objects such as plastic or strong chemical elements are responsible for contaminating the fish that will end up on the table as one more ingredient. On the other hand, an element such as mercury cannot be processed by the human organism : it accumulates until reaching serious quantities for it.

Fish that you should avoid consuming

Taking into account the information on the contamination of some fish, it is also important to know which ones are most affected by mercury.

The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee wrote a report cited by the NY Times that recognized “the risk of mercury exposure in certain types of seafood and warns that pregnant women, nursing mothers, and women planning to become pregnant should avoid certain varieties such as tilefish, shark, swordfish and king mackerel, because they have high levels of mercury ”.

Red tuna

One of the most sold by the fishing industry is tuna, of which there are different species. In this case, bluefin tuna should not be consumed on a regular basis, an  especially important warning for children and pregnant women.

However, in the case of healthy adults, there is no major problem in including such fish in the diet. In fact, it provides essential fatty acids for health. One of them is omega 3, according to a study published in the journal Phytotherapy .

Panga

Among the least healthy fish worldwide is the pangasius. It comes from Vietnam and has a great reception among diners for its ease of consumption. Because it does not have spines, it can be eaten more calmly and fillet, in the same way as sole, but it is cheaper. However, its nutritional information is weak, starting with the low amount of omega 3 fatty acids inside.

As for the harmful element in question, the pangasius is infested by a herbicide called trifluoroaline, which can affect human health and is in fact banned in Europe.

Dogfish

It is one of the most common in Spanish cuisine, it is even used as a cheaper variant of swordfish. However, its exaggerated size is presented as a great disadvantage. Their fat contributes to the accumulation of cadmium (a harmful metal) and mercury, and they also do not provide great nutritional benefits, so avoiding their consumption is the best option.

Mackerel

Mackerel is usually eaten regularly in many regions, especially in restaurants. Despite this, the World Health Organization (WHO) declares it as a dangerous food. Why? It is one of which has the greatest amount of mercury in its interior. 

However, it is an oily fish with a beneficial lipid profile that can be consumed with certain restrictions in the case of adult subjects. You simply have to try not to appear in the diet more than 1 time a week.

Tilapia

If the fish mentioned above is common (mackerel), what about tilapia. Without a doubt, it is one of the most trapped, commercialized and consumed. Tilapia is compared to bacon due to its high amount of fat. 

This created a bad reputation for him during the last century. However, at present the recommendations regarding the consumption of lipids have varied. It is known for sure that fat intake does not influence the body’s lipid profile, according to research published in Nutrients .

However, it is true that the fatty acids in tilapia are more susceptible to spatial transformation into the trans type when subjected to high temperatures. For this reason it is advisable not to fry said food.

Emperor

In life, the emperor fish feeds on other smaller fish thanks to its large size. This factor makes it a huge store of fat that allows it to reserve high levels of mercury. Being so high its content, the most appropriate thing is to avoid its intake or its definitive inclusion in the diet.

In any case, you can use the mercury calculator guide if you have doubts about it and, of course, talk to a nutritionist.

Regulate the consumption of fish with mercury

That certain fish have a higher heavy metal content than others is a signal to moderate their consumption, especially in the case of pregnant women. However, they should not be totally withdrawn from the diet, since in many cases they provide essential fatty acids for the functioning of the body. Try not to consume them more than 1 time a week.