| According to recent studies, 1.4 million people | | | | their bloodstream via breast-feeding or during |
| have elevated levels of mercury in their blood, | | | | pregnancy. Mercury can have a harmful effect on |
| mainly from eating certain types of fish. And this | | | | adults if they accumulate a significant amount in |
| is just in New York alone. The study showed that | | | | their bloodstream; too much mercury can result in |
| New York Asians, women and those of high | | | | damage to the kidneys and the brains. |
| income had the highest level of mercury. It | | | | Mercury fish shouldn't scare consumers off fish |
| seems that sushi is to blame. | | | | completely, however. Fish are rich in omega-3 |
| Officials have found that mercury levels in | | | | fatty acids, which have been shown to produce |
| high-grade tuna, swordfish and yellowtail among | | | | enormous health benefits. In fact, fish have been |
| other varieties, are much higher than other | | | | shown to be an important factor in the diet of |
| species of fish such as salmon or cod. The fact is | | | | many long-lived peoples of the world. It is |
| that all fish contain trace amounts of mercury, | | | | important to note that studies show that sushi |
| but these so called mercury fish contain alarmingly | | | | grade bluefin tuna have a significantly higher level |
| high levels due to their larger size. Larger fish are | | | | of mercury than canned tuna. The fact is that |
| usually older, which means they have more time | | | | these types of fish, larger, predatory fish such as |
| to accumulate toxins such as mercury; they are | | | | bluefin tuna and swordfish and shark should be |
| also usually higher on the food chain, consuming | | | | eaten in limited quantities. |
| other fish, which adds to their high mercury count. | | | | Pregnant or nursing women should stay away |
| Mercury is an element, which occurs naturally; it | | | | from consuming these mercury fish, but it need |
| can be found in the air, water and food. Humans | | | | not be banned entirely. There are many fish that |
| accumulate mercury through food. Fish take up | | | | we should eat regularly; these are incredibly |
| mercury from the water and as they feed. This | | | | healthy and practically mercury free. They include |
| form of mercury called methylmercury is more | | | | anchovies, crab, crawfish, flounder, haddock, |
| toxic; it binds to their tissues as it is absorbed | | | | perch, salmon, sole, shrimp, trout, scallops and |
| through their gills and through their digestive | | | | mackerel among many others. The fact is, only |
| tracks. Generally, mercury poses little risk to | | | | certain types of more expensive sushi are |
| adults; however, it can increase the risk of | | | | potentially dangerous; when consumed in |
| neurological damage in fetuses and infants whose | | | | moderation, there is little risk to your health. |
| mothers have passed on mercury accumulated in | | | | |