Do you Know That Most Gray Salmons Are Laced with Synthetic Pink Pigments?

Let’s begin this article with a question.

Are you a fan of salmon? Would you consume it if you were given a gray salmon for free?

The answer will most likely be a NO! Not wrong, uh?

Now, what if I gave you a pink salmon? That is, a gray salmon that has been made pink using food dye? Would you eat it? You probably might. If you’ve been eating farm-raised salmon, I think you should reconsider. Farm-raised salmon and wild-caught salmon may be similar, but they’re not the same. And so, in this article, I will focus on one unique difference: the coloring.

Photo By Pilipphoto

Farm-raised salmon vs. wild-caught salmon: which is healthier?

Wild salmon is from natural environments like rivers, lakes, and oceans.

However, over half of all salmons sold globally come from fish farms, which breed fish via aquaculture.

According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, by 2030, over two-thirds of global fish consumption will be provided by fish farms (1, 2).

Wild salmon feed on other organisms that live in their natural environment. On the other hand, farmed salmon are red, a processed, high protein, and a high-fat diet that increases their size (3).

Their nutritional value differs

Farmed salmon are given processed fish feed. But conversely, wild salmon eat a whole lot of invertebrates found in their natural environment.

This explains why both kinds of salmon have varying nutrient content.

The nutritional differences in both types of salmon are compared in the table below. There is a vast nutritional difference between both, especially in the fat content (4, 5).

Photo by Brandon on Unsplash

Wild-caught salmon (113 grams)

22 grams protein

5 grams fat (8% DV)

39 mg calcium (4% DV)

1 mg iron (6%)

99 mg cholesterol (33% DV)

Farmed salmon (113 grams)

23 grams protein

15 grams fat (19% DV)

10 mg calcium (1% DV)

0.3 mg iron (2% DV)

60 mg cholesterol (20% DV)

Wild salmon appears richer in natural minerals, including iron and calcium.

Differences in polyunsaturated fat content

There are two types of polyunsaturated fats. They are named omega-3 fatty acids and omega-6 fatty acids. Both fatty acids play vital roles in your body. This explains why they are essential fatty acids — they’re needed in your diet (6).

But then, it is essential to strike a balance.

The problem these days is that many people consume omega-6s in excess, distorting the balance that should occur between both fatty acids. This may trigger inflammation and increase the risk of chronic conditions like heart disease (7).

Wild salmon contains less fat than farmed salmon, and most fat in farmed salmon comes from omega-6 fatty acids (2, 8).

This explains why there is a higher omega-3 to omega-6 ratio in farmed salmon compared to wild-caught salmon.

Why farm-raised salmon is dangerous

Here’s why I’ve brought this up. First, there’s plenty of research on synthetic antioxidants, which makes them dangerous because they are highly carcinogenic. Now, because this is a synthetic antioxidant, it is essential to note that there are no safety studies. And what makes this a bit of a problem is that if someone discovers an issue with this study, it will take at least two decades before it is taken off the market. And some companies have made synthetic variants of these compounds from petrochemicals and sell them in shades of pink.

Technically, they have this color wheel that can be compared to going to a paint store and trying to find the right color. You see these different colors on a SAML fan chart and choose the one you want. Most people will prefer a dark-colored pink. The same thing is done with egg yolks, which explains why they have this golden-yellow-orange color.

Synthetic carotenoids produce the coloring.

This is a good reason you should opt for wild-caught salmon and, by extension, organic chicken and pasture-raised organic eggs.

What are the benefits of natural pigments?

The natural pigments in foods and plants have potent antioxidant activity and other health benefits. In addition, many studies have reported the pharmacological and biological activities of flavonoids, carotenoids, and anthocyanidins.

These include anticancer, antibacterial, antiviral, antiallergic, anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, neuroprotective, antimalarial, and antitrypanosomal properties.

Carotenoids positively affect ROS-mediated conditions such as osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, myocardial infarction, and cancer in smokers (9, 10).

Takeaway

The American Heart Association recommends eating at least two servings of fatty fish weekly. Salmon is an excellent example of a fatty fish. Salmon contains high levels of omega-3s and has other health benefits when consumed optimally.

When shopping for salmon, it is recommended that you go for the wild-caught variant as they are closer to nature than the farm-raised variant. However, if you can’t buy wild-caught fish, then taking a high-quality omega-3 supplement is crucial.

Disclaimer: Dr. Berner does not diagnose, treat, or prevent any medical diseases or conditions; instead, he analyzes and corrects the structure of his patients with Foundational Correction to improve their overall quality of life. He works with their physicians, who regulate their medications. This blog post is not designed to provide medical advice, professional diagnosis, opinion, treatment, or services to you or any other individual. The information provided in this post or through linkages to other sites is not a substitute for medical or professional care. You should not use the information in place of a visit, consultation, or the advice of your physician or another healthcare provider. Foundation Chiropractic and Dr. Brett Berner are not liable or responsible for any advice, the course of treatment, diagnosis, or any other information, services, or product you obtain through this article or others.