The column by Dr. Elizabeth Smoots that The Herald ran June 19 – “Research clarifies benefits, risks of eating fish” – is a move in the right direction in reporting seafood’s health benefits, but the media have a long way to go. There has been too much coverage about the purported risks of seafood and not enough about the numerous health benefits – outlined continuously by numerous health and research organizations.
Consumers need to be educated about the food supply and the whole-health and nutrition benefits foods can provide, and not let fear, lack of knowledge or misinformation deter them.
With 66 percent of people in the U.S. overweight or obese, we can’t afford to steer away from foods with important, real and numerous health benefits, especially since obesity is related to a slew of other health concerns. Obesity leads to higher rates of heart disease and diabetes – particularly among women of lower-economic status and African Americans and Hispanics, who have diabetes rates at 70 percent and 100 percent higher than other populations, respectively. These groups desperately need to eat a healthy, low fat, omega-3 and vitamin D rich protein like fish.
The American Heart Association and American Medical Association state that eating fish cuts the risk of death from heart disease – the largest killer of Americans, according to the AHA – by 36 percent. Americans, particularly middle- and lower-income households, are misled about seafood. As a result, millions of these constituencies are missing out on the array of health benefits seafood provides.
By following the government guidelines for fish consumption, everyone should eat fish or public health will suffer. By educating consumers about their food and taking a whole-health approach, we’ll have healthier individuals and families for years to come.
John Signorino
Chicken of the Sea
President &CEO
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