Dr. Neal Barnard: Why I Dont Eat Fish

[Guest guest]

[This article (excerpt) is about Dr Neal Barnards

health recommendations regarding the human diet. Dr

Barnard is one of the leading Vegetarian Dr's in the

nation today. Rick.]

 

Spectrum Magazine: What about eating fish?

 

 

Dr Neal Barnard: There are several things about fish.

I don't eat fish, and there are many reasons why I

don't. The good things you can say for fish is that

some of the the species are lower in fat by a long

shot compared to meat and even poultry, and some have

a little bit less cholesterol. Some have more

cholesterol, however, like lobster and shrimp. Some

actually are higher in fat, while some are lower.

That's the entire extent of the good news about fish.

The bad news about fish is that it all has cholesterol

and fat, and the fat is not the kind that anybody

needs. These omega-3 fats that people talk about are

also available in beans. In the American Journal of

Clinical Nutrition, there was a recent series of

letters and commentaries saying that people should

probably get their omega-3 fats from vegetables and

not from fish, because the omega-3 fish oils do seem

to have a variety of negative effects, one of which is

that they promote the production of free radicals.

Free radicals can damage your tissues and lead to

cancer.

There is also a contamination problem with fish. The

February cover-story of Consumer Reports talked about

this. The contamination problems with fish are

ghastly.

Salmon and other kinds of swordfish are very

contaminated. There are even warnings that women who

are intending to become pregnant any time in the next

several years shouldn't consume several species of

fish. The EDB content is so high, and it is stored up

in human tissues. There was a study at Wayne State

University on women who had given birth to babies.

Those who never ate fish were compared to those who

did eat fish. The latter group, even those who ate

fish once a month or more, had a higher incidence of

babies who were sluggish at birth, who had small head

circumferences, or who had a variety of learning

problems. Fish is a concentrated protein, and if

anything we need less protein. High protein in the the

diet leads to osteoporosis and kidney problems.

You don't need fish.

 

Spectrum Magazine: If it's not a good idea to eat fish

and poultry, and we are no longer consuming wild

vegetables as did the people in traditional societies,

do you recommend a B12 supplement or any other kind of

supplement?

 

Dr Neal Barnard: I do recommend a B12 supplement for

anybody who, like me, is on a vegan diet. If you start

a vegan diet, you have about a three-year supply of

B12 in your body. But after three years, or even

before, people should supplement with B12. I suggest

you take a form that says " B12 " on it, or the chemical

name, cyanocobalamin. Some of the forms that people

thought were active, like chlorella or spirulina, may

not have active B12 in them. If you get a One-A-Day,

or any common multivitamin, it will have B12 in it.

You don't need to be especially careful about it. And,

there are vegetarian supplements made of algae that

are perfectly fine. It's not something you need to

worry about or take every day. Get the smallest size

you can. Probably 50 micrograms is the smallest size

the store will sell you, and take it 2-4 times per

week. By the way, I don't recommend other supplements.

(cont)

 

Go to this source page and read the entire article >

http://www.purifymind.com/InterviewBarnard.htm

 

 

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

Good post! Excellent article!

 

tev

 

--- Rick Stevens <ecology1st2004 wrote:

 

> [This article (excerpt) is about Dr Neal Barnards

> health recommendations regarding the human diet. Dr

> Barnard is one of the leading Vegetarian Dr's in the

> nation today. Rick.]

>

> Spectrum Magazine: What about eating fish?

>

>

> Dr Neal Barnard: There are several things about

> fish.

> I don't eat fish, and there are many reasons why I

> don't. The good things you can say for fish is that

> some of the the species are lower in fat by a long

> shot compared to meat and even poultry, and some

> have

> a little bit less cholesterol. Some have more

> cholesterol, however, like lobster and shrimp. Some

> actually are higher in fat, while some are lower.

> That's the entire extent of the good news about

> fish.

> The bad news about fish is that it all has

> cholesterol

> and fat, and the fat is not the kind that anybody

> needs. These omega-3 fats that people talk about are

 

 

__________

[...there'll be love and laughter,

and peace ever after,

just you wait and see...

---Vera Lynn]

__________

 

 

 

 

 

Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005