On any metformin hydrochloride 1000 mg given shopping trip, whether or not I stop at the seafood aisle often depends on what I’ve been reading recently, how I feel about the family budget, and how generally attuned I am to a confusing array of risks and benefits.

If I do stop, I often hesitate for lengthy amounts of time trying to figure out which type of seafood I want to buy.

The high Omega-3 fatty acid content of many types of seafood is a given, and I know that generally speaking it is healthy to eat several servings per week.

Then again, pollutants in our waters are concentrated in the bodies of sea animals.

Aside from these health concerns, there are a complicated array of environmental concerns related to seafood, which include over-fishing of certain types, harm done by farm-raised stocks and the unintentional killing of other species, such as dolphins, in nets.

If that were not complicated enough, different species contain different levels of healthy compounds, so that some species may be no more healthy than chicken or pork chops.

I hoped that perhaps some Internet research may help me clear the waters on this issue and get a better idea about whether or not it is worthwhile health-wise to put fish on the table, and what kinds of fish are the best choices.

The research helped a little, though the matter is still fairly complicated, as a type of seafood harvested from one location in one manner may be a good choice, whereas the same type from a different location may be a poor one.

As consumers, we may not always know which category the particular piece of seafood we are buying falls into.

One may be tempted, as I have been in the past, to just take seafood off the menu, but apparently this isn’t a good idea either. Seafood includes nutrients which cannot be found in other foods and are important for people of all ages.

These nutrients help promote heart health, reduce the incidence of dementia, and help in the brain and eye development of infants and children, among a list of other benefits.

Sources seem to agree that in terms of Omega-3’s quantity of mercury and pollutants, and environmental concerns, wild-caught Alaska salmon is the best choice.

Unfortunately, the price tag reflects this, but it sounds like it is worth the cost, which is comforting to know.

Farmed Atlantic salmon, which often presents a tempting cheaper alternative, does not score nearly as well, and is considered by most sources to be a “no-no” in fish purchasing.

Farmed salmon often contain high levels of polychlorinated biphenyls, pesticides and antibiotics.

Their production threatens the environment as salmon cages transfer diseases to wild stock. The cages also release fish waste, pesticides and antibiotics into the ocean.

Other good seafood choices can include rainbow trout, mahi-mahi, Pacific oysters, Alaskan King Crab, clams, some kinds of scallops and United States wild-caught shrimp.

Pacific cod and halibut have good nutritional points, but contain more mercury.

They can be eaten on occasion. Many types of tuna are high in mercury and are being fished in an unsustainable manner. Others are OK, but it sounds a little tricky to sort out which is which.

Some groups have published guides which help consumers make decisions about seafood. Some of these are “The Blue Ocean Institute Seafood Guide,” “The Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch” and the “Food and Water Watch Seafood Buying Guide.”

With all the conflicting information, it sounds like it would be good to keep a resource like one of these on hand.