![]() Ralston spoke at the annual meeting of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics in Boston in October 2016 and said that when researchers investigated further, they found the selenium link. A study from the Faroe Islands and another study from New Zealand found low incidences of harm from mercury exposure from seafood. According to Nicholas Ralston, Ph.D., a research scientist at the University of North Dakota’s Energy and Environmental Research Center, the confusion about mercury and seafood comes from conflicting results from large studies on the effects of mercury on childhood brain development. Selenium is an antioxidant mineral that plays a key role in brain health. Fish also contains another element, selenium, which might hold the key to protecting the brain from mercury. The highest concentrations of methylmercury are generally found in large predators because they are at the top of the food chain and have a longer life. Unfortunately, human industrial activity, such as electricity produced by coal and the incineration of waste, releases elemental mercury, thereby raising the levels of mercury in the air.įrom the air, mercury gets into oceans, rivers, and lakes, where some microorganisms transform it into methylmercury-this is how mercury ends up in fish and shellfish. Mercury is an element that occurs naturally in the air. If you have been cutting fish out of your diet because you are scared of mercury poisoning, the latest research might make you change your mind. So, should you be worried about mercury poisoning from fish? The Latest Research on Mercury Poisoning from Fish They are great sources of protein and omega-3 fatty acids. The average person eats 3.5 ounces of fish per week, and the number drops to an average of 2 ounces during pregnancy.įeeling worried is natural when you read about high levels of mercury in fish, but you do not want to miss out on the health benefits of eating fish and seafood. The American Heart Association and the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend eating fish at least twice weekly and at least 8 ounces total-but only 1 in 10 Americans follow these guidelines. High levels of mercury can have a devastating effect on the brain, heart, kidneys, lungs, and immune system. ![]() The most common type of mercury poisoning comes from eating fish, so it is no wonder that many people in the United States do not eat the recommended amount of fish and seafood because they are worried about mercury in fish.
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