Wild salmon
Salmon has the highest level of vitamin D than of any other fish. And the male reproductive system requires vitamin D for health and proper function. Lots of protein and necessary fatty acids too. Salmon contains high levels of magnesium, vitamin B and omega-3 for healthy testosterone production. Wild salmon take in carotenoids (hence the colour) by eating small crustaceans or other fish with small crustaceans in their digestive system. Wild sockeye salmon have between 38 mg astaxanthin per kilogram. Astaxanthin is ten times stronger than beta-carotene and up to 500 times stronger than vitamin E as an antioxidant.
Often called "the king of the carotenoids," astaxanthin is recognized as being one of the most powerful antioxidants found in nature. Unique aspects of the astaxanthin structure allow it to pass the "blood brain barrier", meaning it can deliver antioxidant activity benefits directly to the brain, eyes and nervous system. The recommended dosage of astaxanthin is 2 to 4mg, it is a potent UVB absorber and reduces DNA damage. Wild salmon are 400 percent higher in astaxanthin than farmed salmon, and 100 percent of theirs is natural astaxanthin, rather than synthetic.
Buying Wild Salmon
- Wild Alaskan sockeye salmon is available in Thailand from paleorobbie.com (989฿ per KG, or $28 US, £22). Wild Coho Salmon Steaks are 149฿, or $5 US. If you are in Thailand then the frozen Alaskan fillets can be delivered free.
- Some high end supermarkets in Thailand will sell also.
- In the UK, Waitrose 1 wild Alaskan 2 sockeye salmon fillets, 220g cost £4.66 (£21.19/kg).
- In the UK, Check out Leap Wild Salmon
- In Australia vitalchoice sell tinned sockeye at $9 AUD per can ($45 AUD/kilo)
So you can see that the best salmon isn't cheap, anywhere in the world. But eating QUALITY salmon once a week isn't going to break the bank. To put things into perspective, a kilo of big mac costs about the same as Wild caught salmon! Try cooking this amazing fish at home and avoid restaurant farmed salmon.
100g (140 calories) of wild salmon contains:
- Vitamin B12, 200% RDA
- Vitamin B6, 35% RDA
- Vitamin B3, 50% RDA
- Vitamin D, 110% RDA
- Iodine, 20% RDA
- Selenium, 65% RDA
- Phosphorous, 45% RDA
- Omega-3, 50% RDA
- Choline, 15% RDA
The dangers of farmed salmon
These levels are meaningless when comparing farmed salmon with natural salmon. Farmed Salmon is one of the most toxic foods in the world. Salmon from a fish farm are likely to be fed with soy pellets and be very low in nutrients compared to the natural fish. Cheap supermarket salmon, or ones sold in standard restaurants are likely to be farmed. Unless you know the origin, it's probably better to turn to other fish.
Salmon and testosterone
Salmon is loaded with omega-3 fatty acids which are important to the production of testosterone because they raise the levels of luteinizing hormone, which is the hormone in men that will trigger testosterone production. Salmon reduces SHBG (sex hormone binding globulin) in the blood, which binds to testosterone.
Sources: mercola.com, BBC, whfoods.com