cooked swai fish
Why You Need to Avoid Eating Swai Fish

Fish is a delicacy among many people and are sought for their high protein content. There are various fish species, and one of them is the swai fish or the Pangasius fish. It is also known by other names like Vietnamese Catfish, Iridescent Shark, and Basa Fish.

Swai fish is liked for several reasons, such as the relatively low-price, mild taste, and low-fat content. Although it is a naturally harvested fish, it is reared in fish farms on a large scale for sale to consumers worldwide. You may find more information about swai fish nutrition value and other crucial details on the Healthoverdosed website.

However, despite its reasonable protein content and affordability, here are some of the reasons you need to avoid eating the pangasius :

Swai Fish Production Leads to Overfishing and Sea Pollution

overfishing and sea polutionAlthough more than 50% of the fish we consume nowadays come from fish farms, and we may assume it protects the oceans and the fish in them, but the farms need fishmeal. For fishmeal production, so many tons of fish have to be harvested from the open sea annually. Unfortunately, even rare species that are to be protected are caught in the process, and without a way to get them back to the sea, they are turned into fishmeal.

Also, there is massive illegal fishing of swai fish to supply fry to the local large fish farms and for sale as imports.  Due to the harm that swai fish production has on the oceans, it would be best to shun them to discourage production.

Swai Fish May Have Toxins from Large-Scale Farming

These fish are raised and produced in big factory fish farms along the Mekong Delta.  The production farms are typically unhygienic and overcrowded, making the spread of pathogens very easy. Due to the need to control diseases and speed up weight gain, the fish are fed with feeds with broad-spectrum antibiotics added to them. Also, toxins like pesticides are used without caution. Some of these substances that can harm humans may build up in fish and end up in the bodies of those who eat them.

You Can Substitute Swai Fish with Other More Nutritious Foods

Swai fish do not have as much nutrition content as the body may require. You could benefit more from other fish species like mackerel and salmon that are better sources of Omega-3 fatty acids than the low-fat pangasius. You may also eat other things other than fish for the nutrients, such as flaxseeds, nuts, and most cooking oils.