Meat is a popular type of food, and this can especially be said for red meat. It has a lot of health benefits as well as being delicious.
Not all meats are considered red meat, however. One food that might be considered to be red meat is fish.
In this article, we will discuss if fish is red meat, the benefits and risks, and finally, how much you should eat. By the end, you’ll know everything you need to know about fish.
Contents
Does Fish Count as Red Meat?
For meat to be considered red meat, it must be a four-legged animal (not a fowl or bird) and then be red when it is in its raw form.
Fish is not only not a four-legged animal, but it also isn’t red when in its raw form. So, because of this, it’s safe to say that fish is not red meat.
Fish would be considered to be white meat if you want to classify it, and eating it comes with both risks and benefits.
Benefits of Eating Fish
First, we are going to touch on the benefits of eating fish. There are a lot of them, and they include:
- Like most meats, there is a lot of protein to be found in fish. Besides protein, you can find omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, Vitamin B2, phosphorus, calcium, iodine, iron, zinc, magnesium, and finally, potassium. All of these benefits can be found in fish.
- Eating fish does a lot of things for your body. It can help lower your risk of heart attack, stroke, and blood pressure.
- One of the most important aspects of fish is that it comes with omega-3 fatty acids. Two specific ones that help keep your heart and brain healthy are called EPA and DHA.
- These two, in particular, are important because they help with heart health and brain function, decrease the risk of certain mental disorders, and can also reduce the risk of arthritis and prevent information.
- You can get these omega-3 fatty acid benefits in fish like tuna, mackerel, salmon, trout, sardines, and herring.
Here you have the biggest benefits of eating fish. There are a lot of them, so if you have ever considered eating fish and haven’t done so yet, then you really should consider it.
It’s going to be beneficial to you in the long run!
In the next section, we are going to cover the many risks that can come with eating fish. Despite all the benefits, some risks can come about with eating fish.
Risks of Eating Fish
There are a few risks that can come about when eating fish. These risks include:
- One risk that can come about with eating fish is that it can sometimes have bacteria in them. This can cause health issues as well. You could get either food poisoning or an illness from the bacteria itself. The best way to prevent this is by making sure the fish is cooked thoroughly.
- Another issue with fish is that they can end up carrying a lot of chemicals from living in the water and the food they eat. These chemicals include PCBs and Mercury.
- Both mercury and PCB can affect the brain and nervous system. Mercury, in particular, can harm children and infants the most, while PCDs can cause cancer or other serious chronic illnesses.
These are the biggest issues with consuming fish, but if you eat it in moderation, you do lower your risk of falling ill.
How Much Fish Should You Consume?
Portion size is something you want to keep in mind when you are cooking and eating. Fish is no different.
This white meat should only be consumed about 2 to 3 times a week. So, 2 to 3 servings.
In each serving it’s recommended that you eat about 4 ounces per serving. So, if you are having 3 servings a week, then it means you’ll be having a total of 12 servings over the entire week.
This is what they say you should eat as well, so as long as you stick to those numbers, you’ll be good.
Final Thoughts
And there you go, all you fish lovers out there! Now you know if fish counts as red meat, what the benefits and risks there are, and finally, how much you should eat.
So, the next time you go to the grocery store and buy fish, you’ll know exactly what you are getting.
You might also be interested in the following:
- Is Egg Considered Meat?
- Is Shrimp Considered Red Meat?
- Is Seafood Considered Red Meat?
- Is Pork Considered Red Meat?
- Is Lamb Considered Red Meat?
- Is Ham Considered Red Meat?
- Is Chicken Considered Red Meat?
- What Is Considered White Meat?
- What Is Considered Processed Meat?
- What Is Considered Lean Meat?
- What Is Considered Red Meat?
I have been smoking and grilling meat from an early age and enjoy sharing my knowledge and expertise through the hundreds of articles I have written about BBQ. I hope to make everyone’s BBQ journey that little bit easier.