What are the pros and cons of salmon? Is it vegan? Gluten-free? Acidic or alkaline? Low in fodmaps? Good for you? Healthy? Sustainable? Here are the pros and cons of salmon: everything an ethical consumer needs to know…
Every day we eat, and if you’re like me, you like to make sure that when you shop for food, you don’t hurt yourself, the environment, animals, or other people. As a responsible shopper, I’m giving you all the information I can find on the pros and cons of salmon.
You are going to learn all about salmon benefits and side effects. This will include everything from the possible health benefits and risks of salmon to its water and carbon footprints, its ability to last for a long time, whether it is vegan or different in other ways, and a lot more.
You will be able to make the best food choices the next time you go shopping for food once you know if salmon is good or bad for animal rights, the environment, and you.
This post is all about salmon benefits and side effects that every ethical consumer should know.
Salmon is one of the most popular fish consumed around the world Rich in protein and omega-3 fatty acids, salmon can be a nutritious addition to a balanced diet But is salmon an acidic food? How does its pH affect your health?
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the acidity of salmon and what that means for your diet
What Determines If a Food Is Acidic or Alkaline?
When you eat foods, they are digested and leave behind an ash residue. Based on the minerals in the food, this ash can be neutral, acidic, or alkaline.
Acidic foods are usually those that have a lot of minerals in them, like potassium, calcium, and magnesium. A more acidic ash is left behind by foods that are high in sulfur, phosphorous, chlorine, and iodine1.
To determine a food’s pH, scientists burn foods and analyze the mineral content of the ash. They then assign a pH value from 0-14, with 0 being the most acidic and 14 being the most alkaline. A pH of 7 is neutral.
Is Salmon Acidic or Alkaline?
The Foodary Alkaline Fish List says that salmon has a pH of about 6. 0 after digestion. This means salmon is mildly acidic.
However, compared to other animal proteins like beef and chicken, salmon is less acidic. Meats tend to have a very low pH around 5.5-6.0, while plant foods like fruits and veggies are less acidic or even alkaline-forming.
Within the fish family, salmon’s pH of 6.0 is moderately acidic. Some fish like sablefish and mackerel are less acidic, with pH values closer to neutral. But there are also more acidic fish out there, like pollock and roe.
So while not completely neutral, salmon is less acidic than many other animal proteins. Consuming salmon as part of a varied diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables can help balance its acidic pH.
Why the Acidity of Salmon Matters
Eating a diet high in acidic foods and low in alkaline foods can impact your health over time. According to the acid-alkaline diet, an overly acidic diet may contribute to issues like:
- Loss of muscle mass
- Decreased bone density
- Chronic inflammation
- Increased cortisol levels
- Higher risk of kidney stones
Maintaining a healthy pH balance is important for overall health. While your body has buffers in place to regulate its pH, eating a very acidic diet makes it harder for your body to maintain homeostasis.
That said, restrictive diets that completely eliminate acidic foods are not necessary. The key is balance. Enjoying salmon and other acidic foods as part of a plant-forward diet can allow you to reap their nutritional benefits while maintaining a healthy pH.
Tips for Balancing the Acidity of Salmon
If you are concerned about the acidic pH of salmon, there are a few simple ways to help neutralize its acidity:
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Pair salmon with alkalizing foods: Enjoy salmon with plenty of green veggies, salads, fresh fruits, and unrefined whole grains. Their more alkaline minerals can help offset the acidity of the salmon.
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Watch your portion sizes: While salmon can be part of a healthy diet, eating large servings multiple times per week may tip your dietary acid load. Stick to 4-6 oz portions as recommended by most health authorities.
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Avoid preparing salmon in an acidic marinade: Skip marinades high in acidic ingredients like lemon juice, vinegar, or wine. Opt for neutral flavors like herbs, garlic, and olive oil instead.
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Balance your plate: Fill half your plate with alkalizing plant foods at each meal. Aim to make plant-based foods the star of your diet, not just a side.
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Stay hydrated: Drinking plenty of water and herbal tea helps your kidneys flush out acidic byproducts and excess mineral salts.
Other Factors to Consider with Salmon
While the pH of salmon is good to know, it’s just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to choosing healthy, sustainable seafood. Here are some other factors to keep in mind:
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Wild vs farmed: Wild salmon tends to have more omega-3s and fewer contaminants than farmed. But overfishing is a concern with wild salmon. Look for sustainable options like Pacific salmon.
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Contaminants: Salmon can contain mercury, PCBs, pesticides, and other pollutants. Children, pregnant women, and frequent salmon eaters should take caution.
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Sustainability: Salmon farming has negative impacts on marine ecosystems. Choose sustainable fisheries or eco-certified farms when possible.
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Ethics: Poor working conditions and human trafficking are problems in some fisheries. Opt for fair trade or responsibly sourced salmon.
So beyond just looking at pH, consider the bigger picture when incorporating salmon into your diet. Selecting sustainable, ethical salmon can allow you to enjoy the benefits of this omega-3 powerhouse while supporting human and environmental health.
The Bottom Line on Salmon Acidity
When it comes to pH, salmon is mildly acidic with a value around 6.0. However, compared to other animal proteins, salmon is less acidic. Salmon can be part of a balanced diet when paired with plenty of alkalizing fruits, veggies, legumes, nuts and seeds.
Aim to make plant foods the foundation of your diet and enjoy salmon in moderation as a complementary protein source a few times per week. Choosing sustainable, low contaminant salmon and preparing it healthfully further reduces the impact of its acidic pH.
With a well-rounded diet full of plants and thoughtful seafood choices, you can harness the nutritional power of salmon without worrying about its acid-forming effects. Your body is designed to handle a mix of acidic and alkaline foods – just be sure to focus on balance.
Is salmon a common food allergen?
Yes, salmon is a common food allergen. Many people experience allergic reactions to salmon.
A group of the eight major allergenic foods, AKA the Big-8, include:
Severe food allergies can be life threatening. When someone with food allergies eats an allergen, they can have anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction that can be life-threatening.
People can still be allergic to and have bad reactions to foods that aren’t on the list of eight by law.
Is salmon high in mercury?
No, compared to other kinds seafood, salmon is relatively low in mercury but contains mercury nonetheless.
Mercury is metal that produces toxic effects to the body. If consumed in high quantities it poisons the kidneys and nervous system. Mercury occurs naturally at low levels in rock, water and soil….
Human activity, especially burning fossil fuels, has dangerously raised mercury levels to levels that are about 450% higher than natural.
Salmon has a relatively high carbon footprint compared to other foods.
It takes around 11. 9 CO2e to produce 1 kilogram or 2. 2 pounds of farmed salmon, a car driving equivalent of 27. 5 miles or 44. 25 kilometers.
A carbon footprint, or CO2e, is something that food leaves behind. A water footprint is something that water leaves behind. Some people think that CO2e is the same as the distance a car drives in miles or kilometers because carbon measurements are harder to understand.
When calculating carbon emissions, some factors may include…
- farm equipment
- animal feed production
- hothouses (greenhouses)
- food processing
- packaging
- transport
- refrigeration
- freezing
- package waste and more
But that’s not all!
It’s best to keep the following in mind when grocery shopping:
- shopping locally reduces transportation emissions
- Not packaging food cuts down on waste and the carbon footprint.
- refrigerated and frozen foods increase carbon emissions
- seasonal foods reduce carbon emissions from hothouses (greenhouses)
- Growing plant-based foods at home is the most eco-friendly way to do it because it leaves no carbon behind.
No, salmon production is relatively unsustainable.
The seafood industry is bad for the environment because it directly affects marine populations dropping, pollutes waters, and destroys habitats. This is true whether seafood is caught in the wild or on farms.
Unfortunately, overfishing means that fish and seafood caught in the wild are hurt because populations are dying faster than they can grow back. Degraded ecosystems occur as a result and creates an imbalance that impacts important food chains. Consequently, vulnerable aquatic species like sea turtles and coral suffer. Scientists predict oceans will be fishless by 2048. Such a big loss of biodiversity would be terrible because the oceans keep the Earth’s temperature stable and provide half of its oxygen.
There’s also an alarming amount of plastic pollution in our oceans. Abandoned and lost fishing gear make up more than 85% of all plastic pollution. Nets, traps and hooks continue to kill marine life. “Abandoned fishing nets kill and hurt more than 100,000 whales, dolphins, seals, and turtles each year,” says Greenpeace.
Fish farming, or aquafarming, is not a sustainable alternative. Not only do farmed fish need to be fed fish to eat, which keeps the fishing cycle going, but the water also gets dirty with antibiotics (to keep the fish from getting sick when they are kept in overcrowded tanks), pesticides, parasites, and fish waste. The toxic water then spreads to waterways and oceans, polluting ecosystems and eventually killing off wild fish populations.
All of the aforementioned fishing practices occur in order to meet global demand. The most obvious way to protect the oceans, waterways, marine habitats, ecosystems, and wildlife on Earth is for people to eat a lot less seafood or none at all.
No, salmon is not vegan. Salmon is a type of fish, therefore making it an animal-derived food. A salmon fish must be killed in order to produce salmon.
It doesn’t matter that we can’t see how these animals live or what they go through; it is still happening. The meat, poultry, and dairy industries do everything they can to keep us from learning about where our food comes from. This way, we don’t know what they’re doing when we buy products and byproducts that come from animals.
Go vegan for animals!
It’s the best way to help animals and it’s not as difficult as you may think. Speak for animals with your actions, for they cannot speak at all.
5 of The Healthiest Fish to Eat and 5 to Avoid
FAQ
Is salmon bad for acid reflux?
Is salmon alkaline or acidic?
What fish is high in acid?
How much acid is in salmon?
Is salmon acidic?
Salmon is only slightly acidic, meaning it’s a safe addition to a healthy, stomach-friendly diet. It’s also delicious, highly nutritious, and versatile in the kitchen, so it is an excellent addition to any healthy diet. Don’t know what to drink?
Does salmon produce high levels of uric acid?
Yes. Fish such as sardines, tuna, anchovies, sea bass, salmon and tilapia contain a high content of purines which, when in excess, promote an increase in uric acid in the blood.
Is salmon a good source of omega-3 fatty acids?
Rich in omega-3 fatty acids Salmon is one of the best sources of the long-chain omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). A 3.5-ounce (100-gram) portion of farmed salmon has 2.3 grams of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, while the same portion of wild salmon contains 2.2 grams ( 1, 2 ).
Is salmon a healthy food?
Salmon is a powerful health food. Research points out that eating fish–especially omega-3-rich fish like salmon—may improve your health in a variety of ways. But what is it about salmon that makes it such a nourishing, disease-fighting food? Here’s what experts have to say. According to the USDA, a 3-ounce portion of cooked wild salmon provides:
Is salmon a nutrient-dense fish?
However, salmon is a nutrient-dense fish that can be found with minimal toxins regardless of whether you choose to buy it farmed or wild. Salmon provides 121 calories, 17g of protein, 5.4g of fat (including beneficial omega-3 fatty acids and the healthful polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats), and 37.4mg of sodium.
Is it bad to eat salmon if one suffers from Gastroesophageal reflux disease?
Although salmon is a healthy food and rich in omega-3s, it is also high in fats, which is not recommended for those suffering from gastroesophageal reflux as it worsens the symptoms. Consumption is permitted sporadically, and small amounts should be consumed to avoid discomfort.