We’ve been asked by various customers, “What about mercury and other pollutants?”, “I heard shrimp and lobster have high cholesterol”, or “What fish have the most protein?” We are here to set the record straight.
From the WebMD.com website, we found they recommend 12 oz. of fish per week to get benefits for a healthy heart and even help prevent Alzheimer’s disease. Yes, there are traces of mercury in nearly all fish and shellfish but the EPA and FDA agree that “the benefits of eating fish a couple times a week far outweigh any risks associated with mercury”. Some of the fish that contain the most mercury would be shark, swordfish, and mackerel, so pregnant women and children, especially, should avoid those types of fish. (None of the fish sold by Ocean Prime Seafoods is on the list of those with high mercury.)
The WebMD.com website also explains the cholesterol in shrimp and lobster. Although these are high in dietary cholesterol, there is virtually no saturated fat. Without saturated fat, the cholesterol in shrimp and lobster does not affect your personal cholesterol count. Your cholesterol levels are affected only by the sauces or butter you might use on the fish.
To answer the third question from our customers, the AskDrSears.com website informed us that most fish are similar in protein content. The following provides a bit more detail (underlined items are sold by Ocean Prime Seafoods):
- Best sources of omega 3 fatty acids: salmon, tuna, mackerel, lake trout, Alaskan halibut, sardines, herring.
- Highest in protein per serving: tuna, salmon, snapper, swordfish. Most fish are similar in protein content.
- Highest vitamin B-12 content: clams, mackerel, herring, blue fin tuna, rainbow trout, and salmon.
- Highest in iron: clams, shrimp, mackerel, swordfish.
- Highest in cholesterol: shrimp, mackerel, lobster. (See above paragraph re cholesterol.)
- Lowest in cholesterol: yellowfin tuna, snapper, halibut, grouper.
In general, AskDrSears.com provides a list for selecting safe seafoods (again, underlined items are sold by Ocean Prime Seafoods):
TRAFFIC-LIGHT SEAFOOD
Green-Light Fish (Enjoy without worry):
- Salmon, wild Alaskan
- Arctic Char
- Tuna, Alaskan
- Catfish (U.S.)
- Rainbow Trout
- Shrimp (Pacific)
- Sablefish, Alaskan
- Halibut, Alaskan
Yellow-Light Fish (Eat less of)*:
* The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends limiting these fish to no more than 12 ounces a week.
- Salmon, Atlantic
- Mahi-Mahi
- Tuna, albacore and yellowfin (or ahi)
- Lobster
- Halibut, Atlantic
- Orange roughy
- Sea bass
- Shrimp, Atlantic
Red-Light Fish (Do not eat!)**:
** Large, predatory fish are more likely to be contaminated.
- Shark
- Swordfish
- Tilefish
- King Mackerel
- Marlin