Avoid serving certain types of fish over the holidays

Many holiday tables are filled with fish dishes during the Christmas season. Fish is a remarkably healthy part of the diet, rich in a plethora of beneficial nutrients. For this reason, they should be consumed not only during Christmas Eve dinner but also regularly. However, it's important to remember that not all species of fish are equally beneficial for our health. Let's find out which ones should be avoided.

Fish are recognized for their rich content of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, B vitamins, valuable minerals, and proteins. The healthiest options are oily sea fish such as cod, halibut, and salmon.

These species should be included not only in the Christmas Eve menu but also our daily diets. The optimal way to prepare them is through pickling with additions like onions or oil, or serving with a sauce or cream. Furthermore, it's advisable to opt for organic products from certified fisheries whenever possible.

To safeguard our health and that of our children, it would be wise to abstain from consuming Pangasius. This is a freshwater fish that originates from the Asian Mekong River. Compared to other fish species, Pangasius doesn't offer as many health benefits. Moreover, they have the potential to contain harmful substances such as mercury, lead, pesticides, and residues of antibiotics and hormones, which the fish is often fed. It's important to keep in mind that Pangasius are frequently raised in polluted waters, where they are kept in cages and fed artificial feed.

Experts caution against purchasing fish from rivers or unverified sources while doing holiday shopping. It is also beneficial to find out what proportion of the product actually contains real meat, as opposed to frozen water, which artificially increases its weight. Although good-quality fish are among the most valuable products in the world, it's advised to moderate their consumption, particularly during the Christmas period.

There should be between 7 and 10.5 ounces of fish on our plates during the day. This is the optimal, ideal portion size. It's important not to overindulge in fish, particularly since we also consume other foods during the holidays.