Evaluating health risks of eating contaminated fish should be balanced with the knowledge that fish are nutritious and good to eat. When properly prepared, fish provide numerous health benefits. The American Heart Association recommends eating two to three fish meals each week. For example, both catfish and ground beef are about 18 percent protein. But for an eight ounce meal, the catfish has about 232 calories while the ground beef has about 640 calories.
Fish are low in sodium and are a good source of potassium, vitamins and other minerals.
Fish are generally low in cholesterol and saturated fats, which have been associated with heart disease. While the health benefits of fish are still being studied, much of the current research is focused on various kinds of beneficial fats in fish, particularly the kind called omega-3 fatty acids found in some fish and fish oils. Some studies have indicated that these fatty acids have favorable effects on health conditions such as hardening of the arteries and high cholesterol. As a general rule, larger, older fish may be more contaminated than smaller, younger fish. Vary the kind of fish you eat.