Comments on: What Is The Deal with Fish, Omega 3’s and Mercury? http://www.tigersandstrawberries.com/2006/10/19/what-is-the-deal-with-fish-omega-3s-and-mercury/ Sat, 10 Jan 2009 00:30:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.2 Comment on What Is The Deal with Fish, Omega 3’s and Mercury? by: Sue from Tasmania http://www.tigersandstrawberries.com/2006/10/19/what-is-the-deal-with-fish-omega-3s-and-mercury/#comment-38006 Fri, 06 Jul 2007 01:05:18 +0000 http://www.tigersandstrawberries.com/2006/10/19/what-is-the-deal-with-fish-omega-3s-and-mercury/#comment-38006 Thanks for doing the research on this. I guess we all realise that 'as close to nature as possible' is always going to best for us, presuming, of course, that the environment of that 'nature' is uncontaminated. Fortunately I live at the bottom of the world (next stop - Antarctica) where the fish will be reasonably safe to consume. I guess everything is a trade-off: We want (and need)the nutritional benefits, which may be lessened, though not necessarily outweighed, by some contamination drawback. 'Who to believe' is a very real concern, because anyone who has done research will know that there is so much conflicting advice out there, that the well-intentioned become very confused. I tend to stick to basics: let's say we're all agreed that a variety of fresh, raw fruits and vegetables go a long way to keep us healthy (they have been proven to strengthen the immune system and repair DNA damage) Okay. So that's better than canned, cooked, dried, etc. Now, to get organically grown produce would be one step better, agreed? And to get the produce picked ripe for maximum nutrition, not under-ripe in consideration of maximum shelf life would be another gain, wouldn't it? So, I guess we would all concede that to grow your own is ideal, but presents it's own problems: what busy mother has the time? Or garden space? Or climate? Etc. But at least we can head TOWARDS that ideal, even if it is only to start sprouting alfalfa in jars on our kitchen windowsill. A very good 'second best' to this would have to be a product called Juice Plus. It is basically 17 different fruits and vegies, picked ripe, tested for pesticides, etc, juiced and dehydrated into powder at low temperature to preserve the nutrients. Being a wholefood source it contains thousands of types of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, antioxidants, etc, and not just a handful of elements processed into a multivitamin tablet which may not be easily assimilated by the body. If you are concerned about your family's foundational health, and are not able to grow much of your own, this is definitely worth a look. Pretty economical too. Yes, the plant-sourced Omega 3s / 6s are available as you say, such as in flaxseed, but the concentration of it is much lower, so you'd have to eat an awful lot to benefit! It is possible (but not simple) to raise your own fish in the backyard with aquaculture methods, but I guess that would be for the enthusiast. Thanks for doing the research on this. I guess we all realise that ‘as close to nature as possible’ is always going to best for us, presuming, of course, that the environment of that ‘nature’ is uncontaminated. Fortunately I live at the bottom of the world (next stop - Antarctica) where the fish will be reasonably safe to consume. I guess everything is a trade-off: We want (and need)the nutritional benefits, which may be lessened, though not necessarily outweighed, by some contamination drawback. ‘Who to believe’ is a very real concern, because anyone who has done research will know that there is so much conflicting advice out there, that the well-intentioned become very confused. I tend to stick to basics: let’s say we’re all agreed that a variety of fresh, raw fruits and vegetables go a long way to keep us healthy (they have been proven to strengthen the immune system and repair DNA damage) Okay. So that’s better than canned, cooked, dried, etc. Now, to get organically grown produce would be one step better, agreed? And to get the produce picked ripe for maximum nutrition, not under-ripe in consideration of maximum shelf life would be another gain, wouldn’t it? So, I guess we would all concede that to grow your own is ideal, but presents it’s own problems: what busy mother has the time? Or garden space? Or climate? Etc. But at least we can head TOWARDS that ideal, even if it is only to start sprouting alfalfa in jars on our kitchen windowsill. A very good ’second best’ to this would have to be a product called Juice Plus. It is basically 17 different fruits and vegies, picked ripe, tested for pesticides, etc, juiced and dehydrated into powder at low temperature to preserve the nutrients. Being a wholefood source it contains thousands of types of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, antioxidants, etc, and not just a handful of elements processed into a multivitamin tablet which may not be easily assimilated by the body. If you are concerned about your family’s foundational health, and are not able to grow much of your own, this is definitely worth a look. Pretty economical too.
Yes, the plant-sourced Omega 3s / 6s are available as you say, such as in flaxseed, but the concentration of it is much lower, so you’d have to eat an awful lot to benefit! It is possible (but not simple) to raise your own fish in the backyard with aquaculture methods, but I guess that would be for the enthusiast.

]]> Comment on What Is The Deal with Fish, Omega 3’s and Mercury? by: Masked http://www.tigersandstrawberries.com/2006/10/19/what-is-the-deal-with-fish-omega-3s-and-mercury/#comment-19149 Thu, 05 Apr 2007 03:14:20 +0000 http://www.tigersandstrawberries.com/2006/10/19/what-is-the-deal-with-fish-omega-3s-and-mercury/#comment-19149 Wild-caught salmon generally contain a "safe" amount of mercury. Watch out for farmed. Wild-caught salmon generally contain a “safe” amount of mercury. Watch out for farmed.

]]> Comment on What Is The Deal with Fish, Omega 3’s and Mercury? by: Women: Eat more seafood while pregnant, have smarter kids at Fresh. Healthy. Useful. http://www.tigersandstrawberries.com/2006/10/19/what-is-the-deal-with-fish-omega-3s-and-mercury/#comment-17945 Mon, 05 Mar 2007 01:15:57 +0000 http://www.tigersandstrawberries.com/2006/10/19/what-is-the-deal-with-fish-omega-3s-and-mercury/#comment-17945 [...] What Is The Deal with Fish, Omega 3’s and Mercury?  [...] […] What Is The Deal with Fish, Omega 3’s and Mercury?  […]

]]> Comment on What Is The Deal with Fish, Omega 3’s and Mercury? by: Meg http://www.tigersandstrawberries.com/2006/10/19/what-is-the-deal-with-fish-omega-3s-and-mercury/#comment-8223 Mon, 23 Oct 2006 08:17:34 +0000 http://www.tigersandstrawberries.com/2006/10/19/what-is-the-deal-with-fish-omega-3s-and-mercury/#comment-8223 Barbara, did you see this story on the BBC site? http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6057732.stm The story is based on a JAMA report on the benefits of eating oily fish. They claim that at worst the mercury reduces the benefit of the omega-3s (which doesn't actually make sense - we all know that mercury is in general a Very Bad Thing to consume). Personally, I'm a bit sceptical of the whole omega-3 bandwagon. I don't think we can blame the stupidity of our politicians on a lack of omega-3 or assume that our kids will be wonder-children if they have it. So I eat these fish rarely, but mainly because I'm against fish-farming and here in Europe it is next to impossible to find tuna or salmon that isn't farmed! (And when I do find it, it's what the French call <i>hors de prix</i> or "beyond expensive"!) Barbara, did you see this story on the BBC site?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6057732.stm

The story is based on a JAMA report on the benefits of eating oily fish. They claim that at worst the mercury reduces the benefit of the omega-3s (which doesn’t actually make sense - we all know that mercury is in general a Very Bad Thing to consume).

Personally, I’m a bit sceptical of the whole omega-3 bandwagon. I don’t think we can blame the stupidity of our politicians on a lack of omega-3 or assume that our kids will be wonder-children if they have it. So I eat these fish rarely, but mainly because I’m against fish-farming and here in Europe it is next to impossible to find tuna or salmon that isn’t farmed! (And when I do find it, it’s what the French call hors de prix or “beyond expensive”!)

]]> Comment on What Is The Deal with Fish, Omega 3’s and Mercury? by: Jennifer http://www.tigersandstrawberries.com/2006/10/19/what-is-the-deal-with-fish-omega-3s-and-mercury/#comment-8040 Fri, 20 Oct 2006 14:15:38 +0000 http://www.tigersandstrawberries.com/2006/10/19/what-is-the-deal-with-fish-omega-3s-and-mercury/#comment-8040 Thanks for the good information, Barbara. When I went to my first prenatal visit, the doctor gave me a sample of an Omega-3 supplement, and the company selling it is clearly using the fish scare as a marketing tool. Do you think the need for Omega-3 for a pregnant woman is so great that a supplement is necessary (in addition to the prenatal vitamins and folic acid I'm already taking)? Or, can I get what I need from non-fish food, like eggs and grain-fed beef (although beef doesn't really appeal to me at the moment)? Since I found out I was pregnant, I've been scouring your pre-Kat posts; so many good things to think about, thanks. Thanks for the good information, Barbara. When I went to my first prenatal visit, the doctor gave me a sample of an Omega-3 supplement, and the company selling it is clearly using the fish scare as a marketing tool. Do you think the need for Omega-3 for a pregnant woman is so great that a supplement is necessary (in addition to the prenatal vitamins and folic acid I’m already taking)? Or, can I get what I need from non-fish food, like eggs and grain-fed beef (although beef doesn’t really appeal to me at the moment)?

Since I found out I was pregnant, I’ve been scouring your pre-Kat posts; so many good things to think about, thanks.

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