BlogHer - fish - Comments

Is it really the greenest food?

KimO — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 14:56:00 -0600

I've been reading more and more how we're depleting the fish in our oceans, and I live on the North Coast of California. The depletion of our salmon has been astounding. I not only cannot eat farmed salmon, but I cannot eat wild either. The popultion has been far too decimated.

Here's an interesting article by Michael Ruhlman that's farm more informitive on this issue. http://blog.ruhlman.com/ruhlmancom/2008/01/we-the-bottomfe.html

Monterey Bay Aqarium and many of the chefs in the area have devoted themselves to only serving fish that are not endangered. They have a great seafood watch guide and info on their website. http://www.mbayaq.org/cr/seafoodwatch.aspx

I think we should focus on eating as locally and humanely as possible. Eat local grass fed beef, lamb, goat etc. Try to buy from local farmers. This lowers our carbon foot print, supports organic and small farming and encourages humane raising of animals. And educate ourselves on which fish aren't too depleted to be eating.

http://omnivoresdelight.blogspot.com

More on Omega 3s in Fish Species

margalite — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 17:58:37 -0600

Have been continuing to track the Omega 3s in Whiting, and so far, for the species listed, they are not good sources. I will look on more charts for other Whiting species.

Whiting is an inexpensive, healthy fat, low cost meal, though. If I find a Whiting species with a better Omega 3 profile, I'll post again, but meanwhile, also check out:

http://www.thepaleodiet.com/nutritional_tools/omega3.shtml and

http://www.seagrant.umn.edu/fish/omega3.pdf

Each mentions some very high numbers for some lesser known fish.

Best to all --- "Em"

P.S. Please visit me at: http://diabetesdietdialogue.wordpress.com

"Everyone knows someone who needs this information!" (TM)

Fish on a Budget

margalite — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 17:35:07 -0600

Hi Catherine,

Good article. I will be matching several of the fish information / aquarium sites as my daughter is now pregnant and I want to give her good information that is current. I was surprised to see so many more fisheries in trouble than when I looked last.

I also have been caught with the read-the-tiniest-words-on-the-label scenario and had to throw out about $40 worth of "wild" caught fish that had been processed in China. Anything to do with China and food is a NO-NO for me. Period. I can't trust them with my family's health. So, now I look for the tiniest print, and usually find "China" on anything packaged.

We are very lucky that Place of Origin IS mandated by law for seafood. The lobbyists didn't care too much, but lobbying is why we don't have sources for other animal foods. Maybe we can press for change with a new administration in the US.

Because of a worsening economy, this past week-end, I went to research several budget sites online to check things out, and I was struck by the fact that people say they cannot "afford" seafood.

Now, as far as I am concerned, FISH is the only animal food which has a chance of being a foundational human food. Since the earliest times, in Africa, shellfish and fish bones have been found etc, etc. I think its beneficial biochemistry is important for us, as long as it is an Omega 3 source or is an ecologically sound food. I will be checking out more on current prices, but I was surprised that the charts at the link above did not include a very budget-price, cold-water fish like Whiting, which should be good on all scores.

We have always made room for fish in our weekly diet, regardless of budget, because it is the healthiest animal protein, if chosen wisely. I would encourage others to do the same.

Best to all --- "Em"

P.S. Please visit me at: http://diabetesdietdialogue.wordpress.com

"Everyone knows someone who needs this information!" (TM)

Better labeling is really needed...

Catherine Morgan — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 18:03:02 -0600

It's crazy. They really need better labeling. Hopefully soon.

:-)

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
at Catherine-Morgan, Capessa Health, Women4Hope

Do you know about my seafood mania?

Pam — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 12:35:52 -0600

Seriously, it's like something I should seek treatment for. I've been hunting out and cooking seafood and blogging about it for years. I finally spun off my food stuff in to Fish Wednesday dot Com. And I signed up to be an advocate for Seafood Watch, the Monterey Bay Aquarium's award winning sustainablity program. I love them.

And yes, it's REALLY HARD. You have to badger your servers in restaurants to get good information about what's on your plate and the folks at the fish counter in your supermarket may or may not know where the fish is from. I'd really like to see labeling that that's consistent and certification that works. The organic/high end markets often have someone who knows, but try getting good information out of someone at our local Safeway. Not happening.

Welcome to the struggle. :)

Nerd's Eye View

For those of us gluten and dairy-free...

Karina Allrich — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 18:32:42 -0500

Hemp milk is a fab dairy alternative. I love it!

Unfortunately I'm allergic to flax and eggs (two other possible sources of EFA's). But the good news- for omnivores- is that salmon, sardines, and free range buffalo meat also contains EFA's. Who knew?

k a r i n a

Karina's Kitchen: Recipes from a [Gluten-Free] Goddess

A Painter's Kitchen [art. words. life.]

Something New to try....Omega 3 keeps my body on track! :)

Rhonda-at-RecipeCarousel — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 04:55:08 -0500

What a great article- I have not yet tried hemp, I am going to the heatlh food store today and will pick some up. I think it sounds like a great addition as salmon; fish in general can be quite expensive.

i usally keep a container of toasted nuts and seeds on hand that I use for snacking thru-out the day; in order to get my daily dose

I find that omega 3's keep my skin and hair especially healthyand my mind clear. Nice article

Thank you Rhonda-at-RecipeCarousel

http://www.recipecarousel.com/blog

Amy, The brand I found at VC

amamasblog — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 22:46:29 -0500

Amy,

The brand I found at VC which had the most Omega 3's was Nature's Way Efa Gold Flax Oil, with 57% Omega-3. I got the 16 oz. bottle and it was about $9. This brand actually had more g/mg of Omega-3's than the really expensive kinds and the Omega-3's is what my Dr. said was so important.

Yes, you can mix it in with juice, or milk, or any drink really. Ryan actually likes it in his milk. For some reason, the taste doesn't bother me too much- it kind of made me mush my face up at first, but now I guess I am used to it, and just pour it on a teaspoon and down the hatch. :-) My sister, on the other hand couldn't stand the taste, even in her milk, so she switched to capsules.

If you mix it in with something, I doubt you would have a problem with it. :-)

Recommend a certain flaxseed oil brand?

Amy Gates — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 20:51:02 -0500

Thanks for sharing about flaxseed oil being used to treat PPD. I should probably try taking some myself. I don't think I have PPD, but I have been feeling kind of down lately. It certainly couldn't hurt. Do you have a brand that you recommend that tastes best? Do you mix it in anything?

Thanks! :)

Amy

Crunchy Domestic Goddess
BlogHers Act contributing editor

I'm going to try that!

Kalyn Denny — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 20:03:26 -0500

I keep reading about them but haven't tried them, and stirring a few into oatmeal sounds like a good way to try them.

Kalyn Denny

Kalyn's Kitchen

Hemp seeds rock

suebob — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 18:26:22 -0500

I used to turn up my nose at Hempseed, thinking it was kind of a stoner affectation (because everyone I knew who was evangelizing hemp was a stoner)...but then I tasted them and they are delicious - kind of like small pine nuts.

Hempseed is expensive, but I just put a tablespoonful on my oatmeal in the morning.

Omega-3 for Post Partum Depression/Nursing

amamasblog — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 13:41:15 -0500

When I had post partum depression 3 months after my son was born, my Dr. told me since I was nursing there was no safe meds. for my depression. He encouraged me to to take two teaspoons of pure, organic, flax seed oil a day, along with extra B vitamins. He mentioned that nursing mothers can be very deficient in Omega-3's, since most of it leaves the body in the breastmilk for the baby.

I accidently thought he said to take two Tablespoons a day, and I did. Within two days, I felt like a new person. It was amazing! Accidently taking two Tablespoons instead of teaspoons didn't hurt me, but I did switch to teaspoons. I still take one teaspoon a day. I notice when I forget, I start to feel blue again. (I am still nursing my almost two year old son). Within hours of taking flax seed oil, I feel better.

I think it is so important to let new and nursing mothers know that they need extra Omega-3's, *especially* if they are nursing. Most nursing mothers don't get any nutritional advice other than the basics, like drink extra water.

In my case increasing Omega-3's, and B vitamins cured my post partum depression without drugs. It is an amazing compound.

Heather
A Mama's Blog
www.amamasblog.com

Using Flax Seeds

MealMixer — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 11:22:00 -0500

I keep a cheap coffee grinder and add my own ground flax to a lot of things, especially cookies and casseroles. We don't eat fish.

I've read that there is no difference between the brown and gold, Cherre.

Another thing to check out is the cooking oil you use, some are higher in Omega-3 than others.

Great post!

Kalyn Denny — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 07:58:08 -0500

I've also found that flax seed is easy to mix into various things like meatloaf or even bread or egg muffins. Haven't tried hemp seeds in anything, I've seen some recipes using them that sound pretty intriguing.

Kalyn Denny
Kalyn's Kitchen

Flax seed is also good for digestion

Cherre — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 07:36:04 -0500

I find flax seeds really easy to integrate it into whatever meal I'm making by sprinkling on top of salads or mixing into batters, etc. You can also substitute flax seed for fat or eggs in recipes. Haven't quite figured out the difference between the gold and brown varieties...?
http://doesabodygood.blogspot.com/search/label/flax