We’ve thought about the brain gut connection, but what about the gut-environment connection? In honor of it being National Nutrition Month and soon, Earth Month, I want to talk about how our diets and our environments intertwine. What we put on our plates matters, not just from a nutritional standpoint, but also when considering the impact that food has on our planet. As a registered dietitian, I am passionate about guiding individuals towards a path that nourishes their bodies but why stop there? Over the past few years, I’ve been diving deeper into how our environment can affect our health on a cellular level. And let me tell you, it’s pretty eye-opening! I’ve been making the switch to non-toxic products in my home, in my makeup bag and of course, my kitchen!
How To Improve Your Health and The Environment
Whether it’s prioritizing pasture-raised eggs or trying to steer as clear as possible from added sugar, I’m making it my priority to keep my health and my environment clean. Does this seem overwhelming? It shouldn’t be! Let’s start with one of my personal favorite foods – fish!
In this blog post, we’ll explore the importance of clean ingredient sourcing, the significance of sustainable fishing practices, and why Safe Catch Foods is the top choice for both a healthier you and a healthier planet.
What makes Safe Catch one of the best fish for the earth?
Clean Ingredient Sourcing:
I think it’s great we’re seeing more and more consumers want to know where their products came from & how, i.e. sourcing. The foundation of a nutritious and environmentally friendly diet starts with where the food is coming from. Opting for locally grown and organic produce can help reduce the carbon footprint and also support local farmers. Now, I do understand not everything is available nor reasonable to buy at a local farmers market. When it comes to those outliers, aiming to buy sustainable caught, sourced and created products are the goal. If you can prioritize clean and sustainable ingredient sourcing, you not only boost your own health but also contribute to a healthier environment.
So, why does sustainable fishing practices matter?
Sustainable fishing practices are crucial for maintaining the delicate balance of our oceans and ensuring the longevity of seafood as a food source. Overfishing and destructive fishing methods can deplete the ocean of its inhabitants. Safe Catch tuna and salmon are Marine Stewardship Council bluefish eco-label certified sustainable. By choosing sustainably sourced seafood, you support responsible fishing practices that aim to have a minimal impact on the ocean.
Mercury and Tuna
Safe Catch has one of, if not the, strictest testing methods to ensure their sustainably-caught fish is the lowest in mercury on the market. Safe Catch actually adheres to a lower mercury limit than what the FDA action limit calls to or deems acceptable. This is due to the fact that they test every tuna and salmon. to their mercury standard. If it doesn’t, they don’t buy it and we don’t eat it. Other brands don’t live by those morals and more often than not, let one or two many toxins slide in the net. Safe Catch tests every single salmon and tuna (100%) while no other brand tests even 0.1% of their fish.
What I admire about Safe Catch as a business, is they’re committed to make all of their products traceable. They want their consumers to feel safe and sure about their decision to eat the top tuna!
Want to look more into sustainable fishing practices? I recommend these resources!
What Makes These Sustainable Fish More Nutritious:
Wild Caught and Sustainability – A Recipe for Health
Similarly to grass-fed and pasture-raised animals, sustainably caught, wild fish often boast higher nutritional value compared to their conventionally caught counterparts. Unfortunately, many conventional farm-raised fish are fed a grain-based, low-nutrient feed. Meanwhile, the diet of wild-caught fatty fish is full of the oceans’ bounty. This diet results in higher levels of omega 3 fatty acids, vitamins and minerals per serving. Always look for the term “wild” on your package. Even better, look for the term “sustainably caught” next to it. Safe Catch products are always sourced from the wild and caught in a sustainable method.
A Better Balance of Healthy Fats:
One of the key benefits of incorporating sustainably sourced fish into your diet is achieving a better balance of healthy fats. The American Heart Association recommends eating two-three servings of fatty-fish per week. This is to help reduce your risk of heart disease. In fact, I recommend my patients incorporate a high quality fatty fish, like tuna or salmon, into their diet on a regular basis. Safe Catch is one of the only brands on the market that uses sustainable sourcing methods to pack and provide wild-caught, omega 3 fatty fish.
Looking for ways to incorporate more fish into your diet? Try one of my tasty recipes!
Less Exposure to Toxins Like Mercury:
Mercury toxicity poses potential risks to human health, particularly for pregnant women and young children. Opt for sustainably sourced fish, like those from Safe Catch Foods, to ensure you minimize your exposure to harmful toxins. Safe Catch is a safer choice for everyone, including vulnerable populations like babies and pregnant women. About 1 out of 4 tuna tested won’t pass their strict purity standards – can your conventionally caught fish say the same??
In fact, Safe Catch is the American pregnancy association recommended tuna and a Dietitian Approved choice. They’re the only canned tuna on the market that meets Consumer Reports’ “Low Mercury” criteria for pregnant women and children. Safe Catch is also a trusted partner of Healthy Child, Healthy World (an Environmental Working Group company). I ate tuna almost every day for an easy source of protein and healthy fats while pregnant and recommend my female patients do as well!
What Makes Safe Catch Tuna The Best Tuna You Can Buy for your health and the environment:
Safe Catch Foods stands out above the rest in sustainable and responsible fishing practices. In fact, their unique approach involves testing each fish for mercury, which ensure only the purest of seafood reaches your plate. This commitment to quality not only safeguards your health but also supports a fishing industry that prioritizes environmental conservation.
Through Safe Catch’s partnership with rePurpose Global, the World’s leading plastic action platform dedicated to reducing waste, every purchase made supports the environment. When you purchase ANY Safe Catch can or pouch in store or online, YOU are helping to remove 5 grams of ocean-bound plastic.
Other Ways to support the environment and your health:
- Switch from single use plastic and consider using non-toxic alternatives, like glass or silicone containers.
- Cut back on food waste and go to the grocery store with an outlined list of what you need for meal prep that week. Get my Trader Joe’s grocery guide here!
- Use non-toxic, biodegradable household products when possible – especially in the areas where your food will be!
By embracing clean ingredient sourcing and supporting sustainable fishing practices, we can nourish our bodies and keep our planet clean. Choose brands like Safe Catch Foods that support sustainable practices to create a healthier future for both ourselves and our planet. Make the switch to sustainable seafood and use code WHITNEY20 to save on safecatch.com.
This blog post was sponsored by Safe Catch through the creation of a thoughtful partnership with the intention of educating the masses on wholesome health concepts. Whitness Nutrition takes every partnership seriously and Whitney upholds her role of a #honestinfluencer to a high standard. Never hesitate to reach out with comments, questions, or concerns.
