As foods are studied more in depth, proper nutrition becomes more complicated. Recently there have been several articles published about whether the harm of eating fish out weighs the benefits. It seems frightening that we are now trying to determine if the possible negatives of consuming small amounts of mercury and PCB’s (largely used as coolant fuels before they were banned in 1979 for being a persistent organic pollutant) outweigh the positives of the omega 3 fatty acids and other health benefits of fish meats. It has even gotten to the point where when purchasing fish oils in stores, a product that people have been using for generations it is now recommended that you double check the label to make sure it is mercury free.
A large number fish species are over fished or harvested in harmful ways as has been publicised in the last couple decades. Such as bottom trawls than can destroy sea grasses, coral beds and pretty much all organisms on the sea floor and netting techniques that capture large varieties of fish species most of which are simply discarded because they are not suitable for marketing to the public. 1
But there is also farmed fish maybe that is a better and sustainable practice? Not exactly, fish in fisheries and even shell fish are treated similarly to cattle feedlots. Living in confined spaces and being administered antibiotics to help them grow and survive in their conditions. As well most fish species will not reproduce in captivity and need to be administered hormones to do so. Fish meats are often not tested for hormones residues when put into the consumer market.2
(Source: 3)
Labels like these make a person wonder what the alternatives are. Maybe it is time to think about something that eats grass and lives on land. Grass fed beef has an omega 3 concentration similar or greater than a number of fish meats. It is important however, to cook it only to a rare or medium rare level if you want to keep the polyunsaturated fats from oxidizing. 3
It could be a healthier choice with fewer restrictions than eating fish. Consuming protein from beef is one of the healthier choices if it is produced lean as well it is one of the more protein dense foods. So if you can eat a safer omega 3 rich protein while avoiding the danger labels of fish why not make the switch. You could also be helping the environment because unlike harvested fish, Nimitz Beef has a holistic focus on sustainability and animal health. No hormones, no antibiotics for growth and no confinement before processing, maybe it is time to consider a safer and healthier type f protein.