Be wary of color. Farm-raised salmon has been fed artificial coloring to fool you. Avoid light orange- or pink-colored salmon, especially when you see white stripes (which is fat) between the meat layers. Wild salmon contains minimal fat, and the color is a deeper, darker shade of red that is more consistent throughout. If you don’t trust your eyes, take the taste test: wild salmon tastes tangier without a metallic taste, and the meat has a firmer consistency. To reduce your exposure to PCBs, you should trim the fat from fish before cooking. Fat is where these chemicals migrate. Also, choose broiling, baking, or grilling over frying, as these cooking methods allow the PCB in the fat to cook off the fish.
What about the mercury concerns when it comes to fish?
“We hear all about the dangers of mercury in fish, but cattle products also contain mercury, and so do mushrooms and various other crops in agriculture. High-fructose corn syrup, used in fruit juices, cereals, salad dressings, and condiments, contains mercury. None of these items seem to have this ‘toxic mercury’ stigma that fish do.
The truth is, the oceans are not the mercury-laden cesspools we’ve been led to believe. In Food Sanity, I debunk this popular mercury fish myth by exploring cultures around the world that eat fish daily, sometimes three times a day. Their blood tests show no mercury toxicity, and they are the epitome of good health.
Pregnant females have been told to avoid certain types of fish because they contain mercury that can ‘harm the unborn fetus.’
There is simply no credible research to support this. In fact, evidence shows quite the opposite. Cultures where pregnant females eat a diet primarily of fish (mostly tuna) have healthier children with higher IQ scores than mothers avoiding fish.
Fish contain very low levels of mercury (parts per million,) and mercury cannot cause humans harm unless it occurs in extremely high enough amounts to inhibit selenium-dependent enzymes, which naturally protect the cells of the brain. In other words, if fish contains more selenium than mercury, it cancels out the mercury that is absorbed by the body. In Food Sanity, I share a chart of 19 of the most commonly eaten fish. All of them except for the mako shark have more selenium than mercury. So, play it safe. If you see mako shark on the menu, don’t order it. The other wild-caught fish are good for you. Naturally derived mercury found in fish is not a health concern.”
With all the weight loss diets available, why do you feel so many people still struggle with their weight?