As you know by now The Flourish Way of eating does not include fish, and we get asked continually, why we can’t eat fish, surely its ok?

So warning, before you continue reading, once you know you can’t unknow, so let’s get into it : )

Many moons ago fish were caught in our clean oceans, but this is not the case in 2022. Most of the fish presented for us to buy and consume is farmed.  So, this is where the first problem lies.

Problem #1:

Farmed fish are fed a diet that is predominately based around grain pellets, and is therefore Omega 6, turning our once wonderful source of Omega 3 essential fatty acids, which are anti-inflammatory, into a pro-inflammatory food source in the way of Omega 6.   All disease processes are inflammation driven, so this is not what you want.

If you are going to consume fish, you need to find a trustworthy source of ocean caught oily fish such as mackerel, sardines, salmon.

Problem #2:

Our ocean caught fish are still not pure.  Our once beautiful pristine oceans are being polluted by plastics.  When plastic waste finds its way to our waterways and oceans, it slowly breakdown into small plastics molecules which our fish end up consuming.

Micro and nano plastics are found in all our ocean caught fish.  Research has shown that no matter where the fish was caught, it will contain micro plastics in its muscular structure, and it is the muscle of the fish that we eat. Hence, when we then consume the fish, we are ingesting micro plastics.  These micro plastics are endocrine disruptors, causing thyroid issues, weight gain, horrible menopause symptoms and gut issues.

Problem #3:

Our gut microbiome consists of two sorts, those that love plants and those that love meat and animal products, and the ones we know support our health are the plant loving ones.  If we eat fish, we promote an increase in the wrong sort of microbes.  The problem with that is these microbes love to make TMA (trimethylamine).  TMA is then transported to the liver where it is converted into TMAO (trimethylamine oxide).  What TMAO then does, is promotes cholesterol into our arteries, making them blocked, hard and stiff.  This is the beginning of cardiovascular/heart disease.

I know right, you have heard that eating fish helps prevent heart disease, but honestly maybe not these days.

Problem #4:

I will make this the last one, it’s already scary enough, right.

To put it succinctly, fish is still animal meat.  It just looks different, but it is still essentially the same, and it still digests and ferments in your gut causing byproducts that are very taxing on our bodies. Compare this to eating vegetables, which are phytonutrient rich and healing on the body.

Ok, but you don’t want to be 100% plant-based! Is that what I hear you saying to me?

What can I do, which animal product is best to eat?

The answer, despite the above, is …… Fish!

Eat fish, small amounts, ocean caught, one to two times per month only.