Tilapia Study Revisited

<span style="font-size: large;">   In 2008, I<span style="font-size: large;"> wrote two posts related to the Wake Forest University School of Medicine s<span style="font-size: large;">tudy that question<span style="font-size: large;">ed the place of tilapi<span style="font-size: large;">a in a heart healthy diet.  <span style="font-size: large;">The issu<span style="font-size: large;">e of concern was the ratio of Omeg<span style="font-size: large;">a <span style="font-size: large;">3 to Ome<span style="font-size: large;">ga 6 fatty acids.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>  <span style="font-size: large;">Some <span style="font-size: large;">health care professionals <span style="font-size: large;">and researchers suggested that because the <span style="font-size: large;">rati<span style="font-size: large;">o of 3 to 6 was low, tilapia could actually cause inflammation instead of reduc<span style="font-size: large;">e it (like omega 3 fatty <span style="font-size: large;">acids in salmon are said to do).</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">   I note<span style="font-size: large;">d in those posts 4 years a<span style="font-size: large;">go that tilapia was a popular fish that was mild in taste, low in calories, saturated fat, and mercur<span style="font-size: large;">y and</span> high in p<span style="font-size: large;">rot<span style="font-size: large;">ein<span style="font-size: large;">.  I<span style="font-size: large;">n other words, it was a <span style="font-size: large;">really great food. <span style="font-size: large;">Right <span style="font-size: large;">before star<span style="font-size: large;">ting this post, I had tilapia for<span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-size: large;">dinner! (w<span style="font-size: large;">ith roasted <span style="font-size: large;">Brussels sprouts and baby corn).</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">   In a special section of th<span style="font-size: large;">is month's Nutrition Action Health </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>Letter</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <span style="font-size: large;">sever<span style="font-size: large;">al myths, scams and claims are challenged.  The tilapia "caution" is one of them.  The WFU study was summarized and the tilapia naysayer was <span style="font-size: large;">identified as Dr. <span style="font-size: large;">Andrew Weil<span style="font-size: large;">.  <span style="font-size: large;">I have found him to be a little extreme<span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-size: large;">with his nutrition advice <span style="font-size: large;">at other times as well.  Th<span style="font-size: large;">is article doesn't say that tilapia has a higher ratio tha<span style="font-size: large;">n was suggested by the WFU researchers</span>, it just clarifies that the low ratio has NOT been conclusively link<span style="font-size: large;">ed to any adverse health outcome.     </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">   The American Heart Association consi<span style="font-size: large;">ders tilapia to be a good choice and since we are talking about <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">inflammation</span> and<span style="font-size: large;"> its relation to heart di<span style="font-size: large;">sease, that <span style="font-size: large;">is a good enough endorsement for me.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>  <span style="font-size: large;">To be clear - salmon is the better fish for heart health.</span>

Tilapia Study Revisited

   In 2008, I wrote two posts related to the Wake Forest University School of Medicine s tudy that question ed the place of tilapi a in a h...

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