Win With Fins

We've known for years that eating fish is a healthy habit, but now the good doctors at RealAge advise that just six ounces of omega-3-rich fish twice weekly reduces our risk of heart disease by a whopping 36 percent.  Go fish!

If you're concerned about the harmful mercury content of fish, follow these guidelines:

1.) Think small.  Young, pint-sized fish such as anchovies, herring, sardines, and sole have the shortest exposure to mercury in the water.  They also eat fewer other fish, which reduces their concentration of mercury. 

2.) Go for the fat.  Salmon, trout, herring, sardines, flounder, haddock, cod, and canned light tuna (which is lower in mercury than albacore) contain high levels of omega-3s and low levels of mercury. 

3.) Add fruit.  Tropical fruits such as mango, pineapple, banana, and papaya actually reduce the amount of mercury your body absorbs.  Garnish your fish with fruit salsa or chutney. 

4.) The danger zone.  Swordfish, shark, tilefish, king mackerel, marlin, orange roughy, and mahi mahi contain the highest levels of mercury.  (Red snapper was recently removed from this list.)

Fins are in -- enjoy!  Do you have a quick and easy fish recipe to share?  Leave a comment!