4Farmed salmon
Doctors encourage people to eat fatty fish high in Omega fatty acids at least twice a week because it is important for heart and brain health. But not all fatty acids are created equal. Omega 3 is a polyunsaturated fat which is great for reducing the risk of colon, breast and prostate cancers. It is also important for fighting vision-related problems, inflammation, depression and autoimmune diseases among other ailments.
Unlike wild salmon, farmed salmon has been found to contain a higher percentage of Omega 6 fatty acids as compared to Omega 3. Too much Omega 6 actually raises blood pressure, bad cholesterol and water retention in the body. Cornell research also shows that PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), dioxins and chlorinated pesticides in farmed salmon can be 10 times higher than that in wild salmon.
Farmed salmon are generally grown in crowded, low-current fish farms. They are fed antibiotics to keep away the diseases that come along with being raised in these polluted, cramped conditions. Quite questionably, synthetically-derived astaxanthin and canthaxanthin are added to the fish fillets in order to give them an appealing pink hue.
Alternative: Switch out farmed salmon for wild caught salmon and other fish such as cod, mackerel, halibut and sardine. Add a moderate amount of flaxseeds, pumpkin seeds, walnuts, tofu, Omega 3 enriched eggs, canola oil, navy beans, brussels sprouts and avocados to your diet.