As a seafood dietitian, I often encounter what I like to
call seafood slander. This is
misinformation, usually in the media, about fish. This week was especially frustrating, because
of a handful of careless reports that claimed bacon, hamburgers, and doughnuts may be healthier than lean fish
like tilapia.

This silly accusation is based on the fact that tilapia, a
mild and inexpensive fish, is richer in omega-6 fatty acids than it is in
omega-3s. Omega-6s are a type of fat
that is generally healthy, but too much may not be ideal. Doctors and dietitians dont yet agree on the
perfect amount of omega-6s in the diet.
But what an impressive
panel of 16 doctors does agree on is since fish like tilapia are, relatively
low in total and saturated fats and high in protein, they clearly can be part
of a healthy diet.

For a well-balanced, heart-healthy diet, eat a variety of
seafood that can include lean fish and shellfish along with plenty of the oily
kind like salmon, tuna, and trout. And
Im sorry to report, replacing tilapia or catfish with bacon, hamburgers or
doughnuts is absolutely not recommended.