A Fish Story: How To Improve Your Health While Protecting The Oceans with Paul Greenberg

Published: Feb. 12, 2020, 11 a.m.

Fish is one of the most nutritious food sources on the planet, especially when it comes to protein. But I\u2019m usually scared to eat it. That\u2019s because some seafood is at risk for toxicity that can harm our health, not to mention certain aquaculture methods are contributing to declining populations and even the acidification of our oceans. It\u2019s not all bad, but it is complex. There are several important things we should think about in order to reap the health benefits from fish and act as environmental stewards at the same time.\xa0\nTo better understand seafood I sat down to talk with Paul Greenberg for this week\u2019s episode of The Doctor\u2019s Farmacy. Paul is the bestselling author of Four Fish, American Catch, and The Omega Principle. A regular contributor to the New York Times and many other publications, Mr. Greenberg is the writer-in-residence at the Safina Center, a Pew Fellow in Marine Conservation and the recipient of a James Beard Award for Writing and Literature. He appears frequently on American and international radio and television programs and is the featured correspondent and co-writer of the 2017 PBS Frontline documentary The Fish On My Plate which, along with his TED talk, has reached millions of viewers.\nThis episode is brought to you by ButcherBox. ButcherBox is committed to humanely raised animals that are never given antibiotics or added hormones and since they take out the middleman you get extra savings. Right now ButcherBox has a special offer, get 2lbs of wild-caught Alaskan sockeye salmon and 2 grass-fed filet mignon steaks for free in your first order PLUS $20 off your first box - just go to ButcherBox.com/farmacy. Make sure you order before February 25, 2020 to take advantage of this great deal.\nHere are more of the details from our interview:\xa0\n\nWhy I\u2019m scared to eat fish and why Paul is optimistic about our oceans (6:55)\n\nOverfishing and the declining fish population around the world (17:57)\n\nHow our monoculture is leading to the creation of dead zones in our waters (25:48)\n\nPros and cons of aquaculture (27:26)\n\nThe nutritional value and toxin levels of farmed salmon (31:37)\n\nThe decline of our oceans from an environmental point of view and the death of phytoplankton (38:36)\n\nThe most effective way to test for mercury exposure (44:10)\n\nThe best types of fish for you to eat (53:13)\n\nFish oil, omega-3 deficiency, and veganism (1:00:47)\n\nThe issue of microplastics in the ocean (1:15:44)\n\nLearn more about Paul Greenberg at www.paulgreenberg.org and watch his TED talk at https://www.ted.com/talks/paul_greenberg_the_four_fish_we_re_overeating_and_what_to_eat_instead.\n\nFollow him on Facebook @fourfish, on Instagram @4fishgreenberg, and on Twitter @4fishgreenberg.\xa0\xa0\n\nResources:\nMarine Stewardship Council (MSC) https://www.msc.org/home\xa0\nAquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) https://www.asc-aqua.org/\xa0\nBest Aquaculture Practices (BAP) https://www.bapcertification.org/\xa0\nMonterey Bay Aquarium\u2019s Seafood Watch https://www.seafoodwatch.org/\nGreenpeace\u2019s Carting Away the Oceans Report: 2018 Supermarket Seafood Ranking https://www.greenpeace.org/usa/research/carting-away-the-oceans-10/\nSeek out a \u201cCommunity Supporting Fishery\u201d or CSF through www.localcatch.org\xa0\n \nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices