Why certain fish species might be bad for your health

Fish should definitely appear more often on our plates due to their content of many nutrients, such as vitamins A, E, B group, and omega-3 fatty acids, which boost immunity and help prevent hypertension, atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular diseases. However, some species can accumulate heavy metals, such as mercury, which are harmful to health. It's best to avoid these and opt for healthier fish.

Although the harmfulness of pangasius has been discussed for years, it still has a broad base of fans. Pangasius comes from Asia, with most of the fish available on the market hailing from farms in Vietnam, mainly in the Mekong Delta. This river is heavily polluted, raising concerns about the quality of pangasius meat. Additionally, pangasius is often farmed under intensive conditions, with many fish in a small space. In such conditions, fish are more prone to disease and are often given antibiotics, which can also negatively impact our health.

Tilapia, a popular and widely available fish, is often farmed in various parts of the world, including China. Like pangasius, tilapia does not stand out for its high nutritional value—it contains little omega-3 and trace elements. Additionally, the method of its farming can raise concerns. Tilapia is often fed low-quality feed, sometimes even waste from food production or animal feces. Such practices can affect the meat's quality and potentially threaten consumers' health.

If you want to prepare tilapia for dinner, pay attention to the country of origin. If it's from China or if such information is missing, it's best to leave it in the store.

Shark meat sounds exotic and might be tempting during vacation trips. As a large predator, shark can accumulate high levels of mercury, a heavy metal that is harmful to health, especially for pregnant and breastfeeding women. Mercury can cross the placenta and affect fetal development, as well as pass into breast milk and harm the child. For this reason, pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid consuming shark meat.

Among the most popular fish is salmon. In this case, it's better to choose wild rather than farmed. Farmed salmon can contain higher concentrations of dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) than wild salmon. These are harmful chemical compounds that can negatively impact health, including increasing the risk of developing certain cancers and hormonal disturbances.

The higher levels of these substances in farmed salmon mainly result from its diet. Farmed salmon are fed feed that can be contaminated with dioxins and PCBs. Additionally, fish fat, where these compounds accumulate, is often used to produce feed for other fish, increasing the risk of contamination.