Fish for dinner: what are you really eating?

Do you love sushi, grilled fish, or fish restaurants? Well, brace yourself because the truth about what’s on your plate might shock you. Every piece of fish—no matter how it looks on the menu—is probably packed with mercury and other heavy metals. This is not a scare tactic or a myth, but a harsh reality you can't escape, even with a side of soy sauce.

Do you love sushi, grilled fish, or fish restaurants? Well, brace yourself because the truth about what’s on your plate might shock you. Every piece of fish—no matter how it looks on the menu—is probably packed with mercury and other heavy metals. This is not a scare tactic or a myth, but a harsh reality you can't escape, even with a side of soy sauce.

How did this happen? It’s all thanks to biomagnification, the process where toxic substances like mercury, lead, and cadmium accumulate in fish. The higher up the food chain the fish is, the more toxins it has. For example, sharks, swordfish, or tuna—they’re the VIPs of this toxic party. They eat smaller fish that already have these metals in their systems, so mercury levels in their bodies build up like gossip in a small town. Not a pleasant thought, is it?

But what about smaller fish? Tiny species like sardines or anchovies are almost saintly. They sit at the bottom of the food chain and don’t have time to accumulate much of the toxins. But, let’s be honest, who really enjoys them just for the taste?

If you still want to enjoy fish, it’s important to know which one you’re picking. For example, wild salmon can contain harmful substances, while farm-raised salmon or tilapia isn’t perfect either, since they’re often fed antibiotics and additives. Yes, they might contain less mercury, but who knows what else they’re carrying? If you’re buying fish from farms, look for those with ASC or MSC certifications, as they at least try to monitor the quality.

But here’s the deal—don’t overdo it. Two servings of big fish a week? That’s fine. Any more? It’s a gamble, where your prize could be either mercury or unwanted additives. Pregnant women and children should be especially careful—big fish is off-limits for them.

So, what should you eat? Sardines, cod from clean waters—those are your safe bets. And with farmed fish, don’t rush, unless you know exactly what they’ve been fed.

Don’t ignore what you eat. You’re risking not only your health but also your mood from eating something you might not have expected.