Ask a Dietitian Archive

Dear Janice & Liz, It seems as if the health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids keep on surfacing. My husband says he read somewhere that omega-3s may actually help with spinal cord injury recovery. Is this true? Best--Michael S.Warren, MI

Dear Janice & Liz,

Hi - I am a dietitian and a patient recently asked my why shellfish
are higher in iron than other fish.  Do you have any answers for me? 
Thank you for your help.

Have a great day!

Sue.

Dear Janice & Liz,

I would like to know which types of fish are best to serve someone
who has heart problems.  I also would like to know if there is a
difference between fresh and saltwater fish as far as heart smart.  The
person I cook for was just diagnosed with heart blockage and I need to
cook more healthy for them.   What about seafood such as shrimp and
crab?  I usually grill the fish and shrimp on my gas grill.

Thanks for the information.
Cynthia

Dear Janice & Liz,

I recently heard a news report that fish is good for the brain.  Is
this true, and if so, how much do I have to eat to reap the benefits?

Thanks,
Jim

Dear Janice & Liz,

I live in the mountains of Virginia, but last winter I spent a long
time down in Key West, FL and Of course I ate a lot of seafood and many
plates of oysters! (I do eat fish 2x a week or more at home.) But when
I came returned from FL last March I noticed that my fingernails were
very strong and hard. Can you tell me what part of my seafood diet
contributed to this? It was a pleasant surprise - and the first time I
ever noticed such a significant change from diet.

Sincerely,
Karen Shaffer-Bristol,VA

Dear Janice & Liz,

My friend told me that it is dangerous to grill food over high heat
because cancer-causing compounds can form. Should I forgo grilling this
summer?

Jed P.

Dear Janice & Liz,

My husband went on a successful Bodega Bay giant calamari fishing
trip yesterday. Is calamari healthy? I heard it was high in cholesterol?

Donna

Dear Janice & Liz,

I use to live in NJ and had access to fresh seafood and loved it. 
15 years ago I moved to Indianapolis.  Fresh was hard to find. I have
now moved about 1 1/2 hours out of Indianapolis in the country. There
is no fresh seafood to be found. I rely on grocery store bought frozen
fish.   

Thanks for any help you can give me.
 
Staci C.

Dear Janice & Liz,

I am a 38 year old Caucasian woman. I recently went to my
cardiologist and he told me to incorporate more fish into my diet. He
didn’t say what kind of fish to eat? Could you please tell me a healthy
fish to eat in the New England area? I am just now learning to like
fish as I have been a meat and potato girl for many years.

PS--I am allergic to shellfish, crab, lobster and shrimp.

Thank you very much,
Sharon C., Natick, MA

Dear Janice & Liz,

I was recently at the supermarket and noticed packages of grilled
fish fillets. They seemed to be high in cholesterol – about 40
milligrams. Can you explain which types of seafood are lowest in
cholesterol and what I should be looking for?

Thanks,
Judith S.
Hudson, MA

Dear Janice & Liz,

I have high potassium and would like to know if scallops have potassium. I will be seeing my physician about my problem next week. What about other seafood?

Dear Janice & Liz,

Several years ago, I got food poisoning from eating some bad fish.
Since then, I have been depriving myself of having any fish. Are there
fish varieties that are less likely to go bad? I would love to know
which fish are the safest bet.

Thanks so much,
Eduardo

Dear Janice & Liz,

I just learned my cholesterol is really elevated. Which seafood
should I avoid & which can I have? I enjoy most all seafood.

Thanks,
Confused Mom

Dear Janice & Liz,

I’ve been asked to make an oyster stuffing for Thanksgiving dinner
but have never done this.  Won’t the stuffing take on the taste of the
oysters and be fishy?  I don’t want to compete with all the other
flavors in the meal!

Jenny
Akron, Ohio