If you are a health conscious individual, then you probably already know how important salmon can be to your overall health. After all, not only is it better for you than many other meat options, but it can be prepared in a variety of delicious ways and fits in with most diets. In addition, salmon is an excellent source of omega 3 fatty acids, which play a major role in brain function, memory health and cardiovascular health. However, if you eat a lot of salmon or other fatty fish that are usually farmed in large numbers, you should be aware of the risks that you are taking by eating large portions and frequently when it comes to these fish.

1. Farmed salmon may not be "eating right."

Unlike wild salmon, farmed salmon are usually fed some mix of food to make them fat. While this results in larger portions of meat for smaller prices, the fish food may contain extra chemicals or ingredients that would not usually be found in a salmon's natural diet. As a result, you could be consuming a fish that contains a lot of artificial "ingredients" instead of a natural source of vitamins and minerals.

2. Farmed fish often are not raised in the best environment.

Not only are farm-raised fish potentially less "happy" while they are alive due to cramped conditions focused only on raising the most fish possible, but they also tend to be bred in areas that are conducive to human comfort. These areas of water - even if they are located in a real aquatic body - tend to be in highly populated areas and, as a result, are likely to have traces of mercury and other toxins and pollutants. Since the FDA has approved fish to have a small amount of these toxins in their systems and still be sold for food, you could be eating fish that actually contain small amounts of poisonous metals and toxins.

If you are starting to get a little queasy thinking about these potential issues with your salmon source of omega 3, do not worry. You simply need to make sure that you buy fish that are raised in the Arctic Circle rather than farmed and that have been certified toxin free. However, this can get really expensive, particularly when you factor in that you would need to eat almost 2 pounds of salmon each day to get the full benefits of omega 3 in your diet. Instead of literally going overboard, consider taking a salmon oil supplement that is made from fish oil that fit all the requirements to make them happy, healthy, safe fish for you to ingest. Learn more about this type of supplement at http://www.omega-3.us.