| Home > Site Map > Recommendations > I > Increased Fish Consumption |
| Compared to most meats and poultry, fish is much lower in total fat and saturated fat, is a source of very high-quality protein, supplies lots of vitamins and minerals and contains high levels of omega-3 fatty acids. Side-Effects Note: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have issued advisories about eating fish that may contain harmful levels of mercury. Mercury is found naturally in nature, but pollution has greatly increased the amount found in the ocean and freshwater streams and lakes. While most mercury pollution is released into the air, it often finds its ways into waterways. Bacteria in the water can transform mercury into a more toxic form called methyl mercury. Methyl mercury is a potent poison and is especially dangerous for pregnant women and young children. Exposure to large amounts of methyl mercury can damage the nervous system and impair mental development. The FDA advisory singled out these large saltwater fish: shark, swordfish, tilefish, and king mackerel. Methyl mercury can be found in all fish; however, long-lived, larger fish that eat smaller fish tend to have higher levels of methyl mercury in their bodies. The EPA said that the same groups included in the FDA advisory should limit their consumption of fish caught by family and friends (non-commercial fish). The EPA said that many state and local agencies monitor their waters for substances such as methyl mercury. Because some areas have greater mercury contamination than others, the EPA urged people to check with these agencies to see what they recommend. |
| Colon Cancer A Raw Food/Fruitarian Diet A Vegan Diet Laryngeal Cancer Mercury Toxicity (Amalgam Illness) Motherhood Issues Ovarian Cancer Pancreatic Cancer Rectal Cancer Stomach Cancer |