Women and kids should limit fish

Children, pregnant women, and women who are planning to become pregnant should limit their intake of fish to avoid the potentially harmful levels of mercury and PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls).According to new guidelines released by the Association of Reproductive Health Professionals, USA, women of reproductive age and children should never eat swordfish, tilefish or king mackerel. The guidelines recommend that women of reproductive age and children should eat no more than one serving per week of fresh or canned albacore tuna, orange roughy, marlin, grouper and other types of fish. Fish that is safe to eat up to twice per week includes squid, canned chunk light tuna, monkfish, bass, trout and pollock.While fish and shellfish can be a good source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids, nearly all seafood contains traces of mercury. High levels of mercury in the bloodstream of fetuses and young children can impair development of the nervous system. However, it is also suggested that young women and children should limit their intake of fish, which contains high levels of PCBs, which have also been shown to impair neurological development in fetuses and young children. According to the guidelines, women and children should eat no more than 1 to 2 servings per month of salmon, sardines, herring and bluefish. Farm-raised salmon also appears to contain more contaminants than wild salmon, according to the researchers. They added that the best way to limit intake of mercury and PCBs is to prevent the pollutants from getting into fish and other foods in the first place by controlling wastes pumped into the environment from industrial activities.

DoctorNDTV is the one stop site for all your health needs providing the most credible health information, health news and tips with expert advice on healthy living, diet plans, informative videos etc. You can get the most relevant and accurate info you need about health problems like diabetes, cancer, pregnancy, HIV and AIDS, weight loss and many other lifestyle diseases. We have a panel of over 350 experts who help us develop content by giving their valuable inputs and bringing to us the latest in the world of healthcare.

Advertisement