Why is tilapia bad

But this isn't always so simple: 73 percent of the tilapia imported from the U. Around 80 percent of adults currently fail to meet these guidelines, per the USDA.

Tilapia is not as rich in omega-3 fatty acids as other fish such as tuna and salmon, and tilapia contains more omega-6 fatty acids than it does omega-3s and this may be the fact that incited so much fish drama in This doesn't mean tilapia is unhealthy. Omega-6 fatty acids are essential, helping to keep cholesterol in check and improve the body's sensitivity to insulin, per Harvard Health Publishing.

The issue with omega-6s is that the body can convert some into another fatty acid called arachidonic acid, which is associated with inflammation, blood clotting and blood vessel constriction.

Still, only very small amounts of omega-6 fats are actually converted, per Harvard Health Publishing. And while tilapia contains less omega-3s than fish like salmon and tuna, a 3-ounce serving of farmed tilapia provides about milligrams of omega-3 fats, per Harvard Health Publishing, which is more than what you'd find in other animal-based protein sources.

Beyond its essential fatty acids, tilapia has an impressive nutrition profile. Tilapia is a great source of vitamin B12, selenium, potassium, niacin and phosphorus. One 3-ounce cooked serving contains:. Tilapia is a safe bet when it is farmed in indoor recirculating tanks with wastewater treatment and a decent option when the wastewater isn't treated. Blue tilapia also known as Izumidai or Saint Peter Fish that is farmed in Peru is the most sustainable choice.

This type of tilapia is farmed from fisheries with sustainable practices. Another solid option, according to the resource, is hybrid red tilapia, which is farmed worldwide in indoor recirculating tanks with wastewater treatment. Tilapia is called "izumidai" in sushi, per Seafood Watch. The answer to this question truly depends on what type of tilapia you're eating as well as your personal health concerns.

Here are the three main takeaways to keep in mind:. Nutrition Nutrition Basics Food and Health. By Kate Bratskeir April 4, Other reports from the FDA identified potentially harmful chemicals, including drug residues, in some imported fish, but these reports, again, were limited to fish of Chinese origin. When Tilapia is farmed right, it becomes a lean, nutrient-dense protein source.

Responsible farms feed their Tilapia a vegetarian diet and steer clear of antibiotics and harmful chemicals, meaning the fish they raise are naturally better for you. As one of the most popular farmed fish in the United States, Tilapia bears the brunt of much of the criticism levied against the aquaculture industry in general.

Naysayers point to the possibility of escapees contaminating wild populations, not to mention runoff from antibiotic use or waste polluting drinking or groundwater. But while some fish farms have less than salient practices, it would be a serious overreach to claim that all fish farms—or indeed, all Tilapia—have a poor effect on the environment. Many fish farms are eco-conscious and eco-responsible, and they take great care to ensure that their farms have no negative effects on the environment.

Some, like Regal Springs, even take care to give back to the environment, boasting zero-waste policies and initiatives to improve water quality in the local communities in which the fish is farmed. Not all Tilapia is created equal. However, there's research to suggest the drug can be highly toxic to the liver. In fact, methyltestosterone has been taken off the market in Germany due to its high potential for liver toxicity. Environmentalists argue that intensive and unregulated tilapia farming is damaging ecosystems, leaving dead lakes and extinct species in poor countries with practices prohibited in the United States.

In Nicaragua, for example, huge numbers of fish are bred in cages, where fish waste pollutes the lake water. Such was the case at Lake Apoyo, where pollution killed off the aquatic plants, leaving the lake a wasteland. When it comes to choosing a fish that qualifies as one of the foods that will help you lose weight and one of the healthiest for your body—and the Earth—abide by the number one rule: Stay off the farm. Farmed seafood, not just tilapia, can have up to 10 times more toxins than wild fish, according to Harvard Researchers.

You need to know about these five hidden sources of sugar masquerading as "health" food. Research has found the inflammatory potential of farmed tilapia to be greater than a burger, doughnuts—even pork bacon! It gets worse. By Eat This, Not That!