This entry was posted on Monday, August 3rd, 2009 at 11:17 am and is filed under Mercury Related. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Fishing for Facts
, 08 03rd, 2009
The link between early exposure to mercury and the onset of autism is well established, but it’s not always easy to pinpoint where and when such an exposure occurs. Mercury occurs in nature and is found in varying levels in fish and shellfish. As a result, many expecting mothers tend to shy away from eating any of these foods at all. The reality is that fish and shellfish are rich in protein and omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential to brain development.
It may seem like a paradox, then, that fish contain both a substance that boosts brain development – omega-3 – as well as one that can significantly stunt mental faculties – mercury. As is often the case, moderation is the key to enjoying the benefits of seafood without suffering the detrimental effects. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends that pregnant women eat up to two meals a week of low-mercury fish and shellfish, which includes canned tuna, salmon and shrimp. On the other hand, pregnant women are urged to avoid eating shark or swordfish because of the high mercury levels inherent to these fish.
Mercury intake is not limited to naturally occurring methylmercury in fish and shellfish, unfortunately. The birth defects mercury poisoning causes have also been found in connection with vaccinations that contain the heavy metal as a preservative.
read comments(0)
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.