Question about sardines

I like to eat sardines because of their great nutrional value (omega 3's, proteins, low to no mercury) but I can't find anything better than sardines in olive oil with salt. The only other alternative that isn't pure crap is sardines in water. Of course it's super easy to find sardines in vegetable oil and other crap but obviously I want something healthy.

So between the olive oil (which I assume is of cheap quality) and water which one should I get? Does the fact that it isn't extra virgin olive oil make a HUGE difference?

Icanbeatthis - If they are true sardines, the type of olive oil shouldn't matter. True sardines are one of the healthiest foods on the planet, they even have co-Q10 in them. Most sardines sold in America are not really sardines at all.

a few decades ago legislation permitted the labeling of any tiny fish with fragile bones as a "sardine." Legitimate sardines usually come from Morocco or Portugal. Here's one supplier that I know of.

http://www.mybela.com/

They are clearly marked as portuguese sardines in olive oil. So those should be considered healthy?

Should I drain the oil? Is it safe to eat a can mostly every day?

I love sardines as well, I have never heard of fake ones before. I squeeze abit of lemon juice ontop
of the sardines and just eat them out of the box. I dont think there is any problem with the vegetable oil
they usually are in.

guys, sardines : This is my domaine.

According to me : Only eat sardines with extra vrigin olive oil.
If you're at home : Open the box. Put the sardines in a plate, don't use the olive oil even if it's extravirgin one ( cheapest sardine olive oil are with poor olive oil )
And put sone GOOD ORGANIC EXTRA VIRGIN OILVE OIL ON YUR FISH.

Forget about the one in sunflower oil. Poor quality. bad oil.

Products from the sea can't be labelled "ORGANIC", it's a law in europe.
But there are"labels" that provides quality, that means the way theyare fishes, theway they are packed ( manually, directly on the boat or 1 month later after beeing fridged etc...) .

The more it's expensive, the better it is, generally...

My favourite : Eat sardines just after apne diving, and then wash my hands full of oil in the sea. Sun bathing on a rock. Then in the water again....the good life...

I too love sardines. I buy the Trader Joes Skinless & Boneless in Olive oil. The ingredients say "sardines" but according to CS that might be meaningless. Also, it says "Product of Morocco" but I suppose that doesn't necessarily mean they're "real" sardines either. Regardless, I think they're still beneficial to your health.

johnt - I think those are my favorite, the kind you get from Trader Joe's. If the "sardines" are labeled Bristling then they are not true sardines.

Hmm, good to know. The Trader Joes one's do not say "bristling" but my second favorite brand, Crown Prince does.

CS,

Even if one can not find true sardines i'd Imagine all the small oily fish that feed on plankton would be just as beneficial? Sprat, Herring, Anchovy, Pilchard etc

Come on guys !!! you are making me laughing !!!

eat a sardine, and YOU'LL KNOW IT !! nothing tastes like a sardine in the world !!! trust your taste !
So other fishes dont taste or smell like sardines !

More over is the quality of the sardin,, freshness ( frozen or not), the way it has been taken, prepared by machine or human hand, location of the fishing, big boats or angling etc...

THAT make a good sardine ....

europe - Those Bristling "sardines" taste great, but are not sardines but are labeled as such. No such funny business in Europe, right europe?