Eating fish provides your body with a variety of nutrients that it requires to operate at peak performance. Minerals, vitamins, and protein are just a few of the nutrients that can be obtained from eating fish and shellfish. Furthermore, it is widely recognized that the fatty fish available are the most nutritious to consume.
When you eat fish that has been properly prepared, you can reap the benefits of vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids, which help your brain function properly and lower your risk of developing a variety of diseases, including cardiovascular disease.
However, not all of the fish found throughout the world are suitable for consumption. While some may require special preparation before they can be eaten safely, a large number of them must not come into contact with you or your mouth. In order to address this issue, we will discuss five of the most dangerous fish to consume today.
Swordfish
The swordfish, also known as broadbills, are a type of predatory fish. Of course, the most distinguishing feature of this fish is its long and flat bill, which gives it the name “broadbill.” In the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic oceans, they are commonly found in the temperate and tropical regions of the oceans. In terms of length and weight, they can typically reach lengths of 9.8 feet and weights of approximately 1,400 lb.
They would be safe to consume, but because of the high levels of mercury they accumulate throughout their lives, it is recommended that adults consume only one serving per month, with children and pregnant women being advised to avoid eating swordfish altogether.
Mercury levels in their bodies reach such high levels as a result of the large number of sea critters they consume, many of which contain mercury and are also occasionally contaminated by it. It goes without saying that consuming a type of fish that contains mercury will result in our contamination as well.
Chilean Sea Bass
This species, also known as the Patagonian toothfish, is being overfished to the point where it is on the verge of extinction. In its natural state, it’s a deep-sea predator, but because of its delicious flavor, seafood distributors have begun to sell it more and more frequently in recent years.
Despite everything we’ve said so far, this is one type of fish that you should avoid eating at all costs. It is believed to have one of the highest mercury concentrations in the world, owing primarily to the sea critters it consumes while submerged at the bottom of the ocean. It is strongly advised that you avoid eating such a meal and instead opt for something else rather than risking mercury poisoning in the process.
You can simply take your fishing rod and reel and catch the fish that you will be cooking – preferably common fish that are not harmful to your health.
Eel
It is one of the reasons why you should avoid eating this fish because it has been overfished, which is causing the species to become extinct slowly but steadily. Furthermore, some seafood experts have advised people to avoid eating sushi that contains Eel because it is toxic.
This is due to the fact that Eels, throughout their lives, absorb contaminants that are harmful to the human body. Some of these contaminants, such as flame retardants and endocrine disruptors such as PCBs, are harmful to human health. For example, the state of New Jersey has issued a recommendation that should be taken into consideration: Eel should not be consumed more than once a year, and this is primarily recommended for grown men.
River Eels become contaminated so quickly, in part due to the fact that they absorb the previously mentioned contaminants so quickly, that women and children should avoid consuming this type of fish entirely.
Furthermore, eels contribute to the health of aquatic ecosystems by consuming algae. They are responsible for the expansion of mussel populations, which, in turn, are capable of filtering water in a naturally occurring manner. When it comes to fishing for Eel, it is recommended that you put your fishing gear back in the closet and opt for another type of fish that is less harmful to your health.
Shark
There are two main reasons why you should avoid eating shark meat at all costs, even though it is considered a delicacy in some parts of the world, particularly Asia. For starters, because they are high on the marine food chain, they consume a large amount of other fish, which means that their mercury intake is extremely high.
It is natural for the food chain to begin with the tiniest form of life, which is then devoured by a larger form of life, and so on until the shark consumes everything beneath it on the food chain. As a result, sharks consume nearly all of the mercury that has accumulated in the body of the fish they are eating over time.
As a result, the first and most important reason is the high mercury content – if you consume more servings than necessary, you run the risk of contaminating yourself. Then, of course, there is the possibility of extinction.
When it comes to Asian cuisine, sharks, particularly their fins, are in high demand; however, there are tuna and swordfish fishers who accidentally capture and discard sharks because they are regarded as waste.
The fact that sharks mature slowly and produce few offspring means that they are on the verge of extinction in the wild.
Tilapia
This particular species of fish is one of the most widely consumed in the United States. However, it is a dangerous fish to consume because of the numerous diseases that it can cause to your body if consumed.
It has been discovered that frequent consumption of Tilapia will eventually result in highly inflammatory diets. Furthermore, this fish has a low omega-3 to omega-6 ratio, which can be dangerous for people who suffer from asthma, arthritis, heart disease, and symptoms of autoimmune diseases, among other ailments. This is because these illnesses are characterized by an exaggerated inflammatory response, which, as previously stated, can be triggered by the consumption of Tilapia.
Another study discovered that Tilapia contains a long-chain of omega-6 fatty acids – to be more specific, this means that it contains 80 percent more omega-6 fatty acids than a standard hamburger, pork bacon, and doughnuts combined. While it is recommended that you avoid eating Tilapia, it is very clear that you should not do so.
Because of the high levels of mercury found in their bodies, most of the fish considered safe to eat are actually not that safe to eat, as you’ve seen above. Infection with mercury is a serious condition that should be treated with caution. That’s why, before deciding to have fish for dinner, you should do your research and determine which type of fish would be the most nutritious and least contaminated.