One thing we did years ago was start eating more fish and seafood. Not all types of fish but some specific types and seafood. I did this to help with inflammation, and it can help you and your family as well.
Larger Fish & Seafood
Fish and seafood have an amazing balance of ANTI INFLAMMATORY properties, healthy fats and proteins that really are very nourishing for your body. They can help you develop a positive inflammatory process and get immunity back in line. In addition to eating them, I also have most of my clients taking some type of fish oil or related omega 3 supplement.
Omega 3 are HIGH in fish and seafood. These are the awesome amazing anti inflammatory essential fatty acids. Unfortunately today in our culture and processed food society we are CHOC FULL of omega 6 (pro inflammatory). We need BOTH to function, so please don’t misunderstand we aren’t cutting things out. BUT we are balancing and choosing the BEST sources of these to make our system run well.
What are positive omega 6? Flaxseeds and flaxseed oil (not for cooking, for non-heat or supplement use) is a really positive healthy source that helps with many imbalances in the body. Walnuts have a great omega 6 healthy fat source, as well as pumpkin seeds, which are also my favorite recommendation for ZINC! (Which nearly everyone is deficient in). These are just a few sources. But unfortunately today, omega 6 is plentiful and not just in products, but in negative inflammatory sources in ADDITION to the nature of omega 6.
Think corn oil, vegetable oil, canola oil, random other seed oils – these are POOR omega 6 sources. They have been heavily processed (often with HARSH chemicals) and are very inflammatory and oxidative to the body. This is where we develop issues in the body. This type of oil is terrible for heart, digestion and immunity.
Why we need inflammation
Inflammation is NECESSARY for our body to heal. Even from every day things. Simple cuts, simple bruises, daily toxins and more. HOWEVER, where we go wrong is when the body cannot recover from the inflammatory state and STAYS there. This is when we develop digestive issues, imbalances in the immune system, heart disease and more.
If all we have in our body is a TON of omega 6, and no resources for omega 3, when it is time to stop the inflammation, our body has NO resources to do it. All that is there are the pieces to DRIVE the inflammatory process. We need to provide a great omega 3 source for our body to recover this necessary process in the correct way.
Sourcing is IMPORTANT
So I say eat more fish and seafood, and I tell ALL my clients this because as you know I work primarily in inflammatory issues, as well as severe digestive issues. But many will ask (and rightly so) isn’t that even more dangerous because fish are contaminated with metals?
I love the question, if ONLY they would ask where and what their other meats were contaminated with we would all be living better lives to begin with.
When choosing fish and seafood we consider, the size of the fish and type of fish and seafood. Some are contaminated with heavy metals and the fish will carry those in the meat to you. Smaller fish, usually more small water fish from contaminated waters, can carry this risk. The best thing you can do if fishing locally is to check the EPA site for the fish list from those waters, and if you can eat them. If so, how much is considered OK. What I would then say to you is, those fish would be an occasional eat. Those aren’t things (unless it said no contaminates fine to eat freely) we stock our freezer with. We DO want WILD CAUGHT fish. From any location. When purchasing in the grocery or market – WILD CAUGHT is what we want. Larger fish like salmon, haddock, cod have a great filtration system and THEY HAVE AMAZING HEALTH PROPERTIES! That means they don’t hang on to the heavy metals in their system so they don’t come to you in their meat. Other fish like swordfish, or tuna they do NOT filter well so those are treats, and NOT staples. Things like shrimp, and scallops those are safer seafoods to consume. You can add in an occasional mussel or clam as well. My recommendation is always about 4 days of fish and/or seafood for dinner weekly. You can then work in other meats to the day (lunch) and other days of the week.
If you have to buy a farmed fish or seafood due to access you want to find something that was done organically. This at least decreases your risks of what it had been fed and contaminates. It is still better than traditionally raised alternative meat sources.
Why is this BETTER than other meats?
As I mentioned fish and seafood are high in the ANTI INFLAMMATORY fats we want. Other meats ARE NOT. The quality of other meat is JUST as IMPORTANT.
Check out this post to learn more about how to choose the best quality meat and product. But basically you want grass fed and finished, you want pasture-raised, free-range animals. In addition again, if you cannot find these types of animals near you – you will get organic. This is for the SAME reason as fish/seafood quality. When the animals aren’t fed properly or fed junk food (yes quite literally I mean that some traditionally raised farm animals are fed left over candy and more), the toxins in those feeds and foods come right to you via the meat. That is why it is important to consider the fat content in traditionally raised meats you get at the grocery. You want LESS fat not for the reasons you think – but to avoid most toxins getting into your system because the FAT on those animals is where the toxins are stored and come to you when eaten. When we eat well-raised and properly raised animals they are naturally higher in omega 3 (the closer to wild the better), and they have less toxins and are LOWER in overall fat naturally.
Learn more about eating healthy fats here.
The great news is this – you can easily look up the fish online (or seafood) and see it’s usual metal toxicity levels because it has been widely shared in our culture. But think like this – salmon, shrimp, cod, haddock and rotate with other meats like pastured chicken, grass fed ground beef and you have filled your week! You will be AMAZED at how much better you feel eating like this just in this one change.
What can you expect to notice?
• Better hair and nails
• Less digestive symptoms like gas, bloating and more
• Less achey joints and daily pains
• Better skin tone and quality
• More energy
• Clearer head (less brain fog)
• Improved immunity
AND MORE!
If you are local to me here in Upstate NY – check out Market Seafood at Regional Market – Syracuse. Shed A. Zach has some amazing product. Learn more about his business here. If you are in Rochester NY you can grab him at your local market there as well.
If you need help with autoimmunity, auto inflammatory issues, pre-diabetic, cholesterol, or digestive issues, this is your time to reach out! Let’s get you in line before the holidays. If you book a NEW CLIENT appointment before December 15, receive 200.00 off your package! (Applies to NEW clients only, and cannot be combined with other offers).
