Ask Dr. Gourmet

Is tilapia good or bad for you?

Do you have any information on the health benefits/non-benefits of the fish called tilapia? I've seen conflicting reports.

Dr. Gourmet Says...

There are essentially no recipes for tilapia on the Dr. Gourmet website. Part of this is because I am not all that fond of the flavor and texture of this fish. I find tilapia pretty bland and dry.

The other reason is because the research that we have about the health effects of eating fish has been done mostly with fatty fish such as tuna, halibut, and salmon. Leaner fish like tilapia and catfish have much less Omega 3. But... is that a problem?

It appears that it might be. In a study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, researchers found that there is not very much Omega-3 fat in tilapia (we knew that). The issue is that there are high levels of Omega-6 fats and this might actually be dangerous. There is controversy about the importance of the ratio of Omega-3 to Omega-6 fats in foods. Some feel that having a high ratio of Omega-6 to Omega-3 can actually create an inflammatory state that could worsen issues such as heart disease. There is enough evidence to be concerned, however. (The authors of the study also note that farm raised catfish have similar ratios.)

So it might be best to not make tilapia the main fish you eat.

One idea that I do try and get across in my work here at Dr. Gourmet is that too much of any food is a problem. Instead, mix it up by eating a wide variety of seafood; including salmon, halibut, drum, tilapia, tuna, shrimp, mussels, cod, flounder, and so on. That's the best way to make sure that you are not only eating healthy but also enjoying what you eat to the fullest.

Thanks for writing,

Timothy S. Harlan, MD, FACP, CCMS
Dr. Gourmet