Farmed or wild fish: Which is better? | Bradenton Surgical Group

Fish is typically seen as the heart-healthy protein to eat after LAP-BAND surgery, but with concerns of chemical poisoning, you might be wondering whether you should eat wild fish or farmed fish. The omega-3 polyunsaturated fat found in salmon has been shown to reduce the risk of heart attack and lower cholesterol. Recent studies have also shown that salmon can have a high level of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), a man-made toxin. Farmed salmon can have an even higher level of PCBs than wild salmon, but it also has more omega-3 fatty acids than its wild counterpart. What should you do?

Experts say not to worry, because the benefits outweigh the risks. Eric Rimm, associate professor of epidemiology and nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health, explains that the health benefits of both farmed and wild salmon exceed any health risks that may occur: “It’s clear that if there is any risk, the benefit is still in the range of 300 to 1,000 times greater from the fact that you’re getting the omega-3s.”

You can also take several steps to ensure that you reduce the risks further:

• Trim the skin and fat as much as possible
• Grill or boil your fish to reduce more fat
• Be educated about where your fish come from and research potential problems in the area
• Eat smaller fish on the food chain such as anchovies, mackerel, or sardines, because they’re less likely to pick up toxins.
• Search for fish that have not been injected with antibiotics and that are raised in environmentally friendly situations.