Teeswater News – Online!

A Pesky Problem of Food

By: Mark W. Law (February 20, 2012)

Someone I once knew said “I can’t eat anything with a face!”, and became a vegetarian.

For the rest of us the choice of a vegetarian or carnivorous lifestyle is not that easy, but one many, myself included, have considered seriously over the last few years.

A diet that falls somewhere in between might just be the answer for those of us who don’t really enjoy a steady diet of beef, pork, poultry, sausage etc. but worry that exchanging meat for leafy green stuff might not be in our best interest.

One such diet lifestyle, called Pescetarianism (Pesky-terian-ism) involves excluding all land animals from your diet. Ergo a pescetarian is a vegetarian who supplements their diet with fish or shellfish.

Now this might be something I could sink my teeth into. I MUCH prefer seafood to land meats (though turkey can be mighty fine), and I certainly like the idea of extra beans, lentils, cabbage and greens in my diet. But is it healthy?

According to the American Diabetes Association, Type 2 Diabetes can be directly related to obesity and Body Mass. In plain terms, the lower your BMI the lower your risk of obesity and Diabetes. According to their study Mean BMI was lowest in vegans (23.6 kg/m²) and incrementally higher in lacto-ovo vegetarians (25.7 kg/m²), pesco-vegetarians (26.3 kg/m²), semi-vegetarians (27.3 kg/m²), and nonvegetarians (28.8 kg/m²). Prevalence of type 2 diabetes increased from 2.9% in vegans to 7.6% in nonvegetarians. Well that sounds promising, not that I REALLY have to worry about becoming obese (I am actually losing weight right now…).

But what about all the hoopla regarding mercury levels in fish? According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, it is not about whether to eat or not eat fish but rather which fish to eat:

• LEAST MERCURY (-0.09 parts per million) – Enjoy these fish: Anchovies, Butterfish, Catfish, Clam, Crab (Domestic), Crawfish/Crayfish, Croaker (Atlantic), Flounder*, Haddock (Atlantic)*, Hake, Herring, Mackerel (N. Atlantic, Chub), Mullet, Oyster, Perch (Ocean), Plaice, Pollock, Salmon (Canned)**, Salmon (Fresh)**, Sardine, Scallop*, Shad (American), Shrimp*, Sole (Pacific), Squid (Calamari), Tilapia, Trout (Freshwater), Whitefish, Whiting
• MODERATE MERCURY (0.09 – 0.29 parts per million) – Eat six servings or less per month: Bass (Striped, Black), Carp, Cod (Alaskan)*, Croaker (White Pacific), Halibut (Atlantic)*, Halibut (Pacific), Jacksmelt, (Silverside), Lobster, Mahi Mahi, Monkfish*, Perch (Freshwater), Sablefish, Skate*, Snapper*, Tuna (Canned, chunk light), Tuna (Skipjack)*, Weakfish (Sea Trout)
• HIGH MERCURY (0.3 – 0.49 parts per million) – Eat three servings or less per month: Bluefish, Grouper*, Mackerel (Spanish, Gulf), Sea Bass (Chilean)*, Tuna (Canned Albacore), Tuna (Yellowfin)*
• HIGHEST MERCURY (+.5 parts per million) – Avoid eating: Mackerel (King), Marlin*, Orange Roughy*, Shark*, Swordfish*, Tilefish*, Tuna (Bigeye, Ahi)*

Which of course leads to the next problem, how to acquire a steady source of fish when you live in the middle of the continent?

Looking up at the list I see that Trout, Whitefish, Ocean Perch, Pollock and Shrimp are all on the LEAST MERCURY list. BONUS! I might just be able to get everything I need at the River Village Market!

I may not be quite ready to give up Tom Gobbler but certainly a pescetarian diet might have some promise! And nothing better than pan-fried Trout!…

Oh wait, pan-fried – butter – cholesterol…

*sigh*

Mark

* * *

• * Fish in Trouble! These fish are perilously low in numbers or are caught using environmentally destructive methods. To learn more, see the Monterey Bay Aquarium and the Blue Ocean Institute, both of which provide guides to fish to enjoy or avoid on the basis of environmental factors.
• ** Farmed Salmon may contain PCB’s, chemicals with serious long-term health effects.
• Some yummy pescetarian recipes to get you started: http://pescetarianlivingrecipes.blogspot.com/

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Mark W. Law has been a writing and journalism fanatic since he was first tagged to write a 3 act ’shadow play’ – in Grade 2! Originally from the wee hamlet of Oyster Bay, BC, Mark has worked in many parts of the world, including almost all of the Canadian provinces, the United States, Europe and even a sand-filled radio station in North Africa. During that time he has written for military and local newspapers, served as editor for a number of online magazines as well as publishing his own popular ezine for new writers and artists – The ThinWire Journal. Mark has also penned more than 100 poems and essays and is an internationally known digital artist. And for anyone who lived in Northern BC during the 1980’s and 1990’s, Mark was the ‘morning weatherman’ on CBC Radio. Opinions expressed in ‘the View’ are his own and do not necessarily reflect Teeswater or Teeswater.Ca.

Filed Under: Lifestyle, Recipes, The View