Does Frying Fish Kill Omega Fish Oil? | Exercise.com Learn: Your Fitness Business Resource

Does Frying Fish Kill Omega Fish Oil?

Tyler Spraul is the director of UX and the head trainer for Exercise.com. He has his Bachelor of Science degree in pre-medicine and is an NSCA-certified strength and conditioning specialist. He is a former All-American soccer player and still coaches soccer today. In his free time, he enjoys reading, learning, and living the dad life. He has been featured in Shape, Healthline, HuffPost, Women's...

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UPDATED: Aug 25, 2020

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  • Frying fish does not kill omega fish oil.
  • Frying fish can be unhealthy and can increase the mercury content in the fish.
  • It is best to use other methods of cooking fish instead of frying.

No, frying fish does not kill omega fish oil.

However, frying fish is not only unhealthy but it may increase the mercury content that is contained in your fish, making it less healthy to eat for other reasons.

Supplement companies do not use fried fish for their omega fish oil.

The American Heart Association recommends that you grill or broil your fish.

They even provide heart-healthy recipes for fish to help you get some more ideas for cooking the fish that you eat.

According to the AMA, frying your fish actually increases your risk of heart disease. It directly counteracts the benefit of eating omega 3, which is primarily for heart health.

If you fry your fish, you should consider trying out some other ways to cook it.

Also, don’t forget that exercise is also an important component of your overall health. If you are looking for an exercise routine, look no further. Go PRO today for access to certified personal trainers, workout plans, and more.

What Is the Best Way to Eat Fish for Fish Oil?

It doesn’t appear that there are any negative effects on the amount of fish oil contained in fish no matter how it is cooked. You will often find recommendations for cooking based more on how healthy it is for you rather than the fish oil angle.

As mentioned above, the AMA recommends you grill or broil your fish. However, you can steam, bake, poach, make soup or whatever you find the most appealing that helps you enjoy your fish! Simply put, anything but deep frying your fish is unhealthy.

If you enjoy pan-frying your fish in olive oil, this is a relatively healthy way to fry your fish. However, you may want to avoid frying completely for optimum health benefits.

Should I Avoid Eating Fish Because of Mercury Concerns?

The first thing that you should know is that while most fish contain mercury, with a few exceptions, the amount of mercury is so small that the human body simply eliminates it with ease. Despite this, the FDA recommends no more than 12 ounces of low mercury fish a week, to eliminate any concern about mercury poisoning.

Mercury awareness is especially important for children and pregnant women. The FDA also suggests eating no more than 3 ounces of swordfish, shark and other fish high in mercury for adults.

They recommend that children and pregnant or nursing women avoid eating fish high in mercury altogether. The FDA also says that if you cannot get a variety of low mercury fish, then you should only eat 6 ounces of the same fish in a week.

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What Is the Problem With Mercury Anyway?

Mercury can be dangerous when ingested in large amounts. There has been a lot of fuss about mercury being used in vaccines. However, there are only trace amounts used in vaccines which is far less than what you will find in a healthy fish that is safe to eat.

When too much mercury is ingested, you can get mercury poisoning or mercury toxicity. One major side effect of such toxicity is neurological problems according to MedicineNet.com. There are also physical effects such as the shakes, impaired vision, difficulty walking and talking, and hearing impairment.

Some groups such as the National Autism Association claim that mercury causes autism. They would like mercury eliminated from vaccines as well as tooth fillings and any other sources of mercury.

To date, there are extremely mixed feelings on this subject with many doctors disagreeing with this sentiment. There is no doubt that too much mercury can be detrimental to your health and cause a variety of health problems.

Is It Better to Eat Fish or Take Supplements for My Omega Oil Requirements?

If you don’t eat fatty fish at least twice a week, then you need to take supplements to get the omega 3 fatty acids that your body needs. If you like to eat fish, then you should include it two times a week as part of a healthy diet and eat that fish in lieu of taking supplements.

The good news is that supplements are an excellent way to get your omega oil. The bad news is that many people report that when they burp they taste fish, usually for several hours after taking the supplement.

You may have to try several products before you find one that doesn’t leave such an aftertaste.

Keep in mind that supplementation of any kind is not enough for your overall health and fitness needs. Exercise is important. Go PRO today for access to certified personal trainers, workout plans, goal trackers, and more!

 

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