Many persons that love all the fruits of the ocean, enjoy sticking to a more Mediterranean diet and simply like their fresh fish can stop worrying about the high amount of mercury found in these animals. A new study that, in the past, warned of this element leading to cardiovascular disease has been challenged by new research published this week. However, if you are pregnant, you should still steer clear.

Dariush Mozaffarian, MD, DrPH, an associate professor of medicine and epidemiology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston states:

“We didn’t see any evidence that higher levels of mercury were linked to higher cardiovascular harm. At exposure levels commonly seen in the U.S., we didn’t see any evidence of harm.”

Beware if you are pregnant however. High amounts of mercury intake can affect the little unborn inside’s developing nervous system. Some fish have a higher mercury content than others. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are advising women who may become pregnant, pregnant women, nursing mothers, and young children to avoid some types of fish and eat fish and shellfish that are lower in mercury. Don’t eat shark, swordfish, king mackerel, or tilefish because they contain high levels of mercury.

Fish and shellfish are an important part of a healthy diet. Fish and shellfish contain high quality protein and other essential nutrients, are low in saturated fat, and contain omega-3 fatty acids. A well-balanced diet that includes a variety of fish and shellfish can contribute to heart health and children’s proper growth and development. So, women and young children in particular should include fish or shellfish in their diets due to the many nutritional benefits.

However, nearly all fish and shellfish contain traces of mercury. For most people, the risk from mercury by eating fish and shellfish is not a health concern. The risks from mercury in fish and shellfish depend on the amount of fish and shellfish eaten and the levels of mercury in the fish and shellfish.

Mercury occurs naturally in the environment and can also be released into the air through industrial pollution. Mercury falls from the air and can accumulate in streams and oceans and is turned into methyl mercury in the water. It is this type of mercury that can be harmful to your unborn baby and young child. Fish absorb the methyl mercury as they feed in these waters and so it builds up in them. It builds up more in some types of fish and shellfish than others, depending on what the fish eat, which is why the levels vary.

If you regularly eat types of fish that are high in methyl mercury, it can accumulate in your blood stream over time. Methyl mercury is removed from the body naturally, but it may take over a year for the levels to drop significantly. Thus, it may be present in a woman even before she becomes pregnant. This is the reason why women who are trying to become pregnant should also avoid eating certain types of fish.

Nearly all fish and shellfish contain traces of methyl mercury. However, larger fish that have lived longer have the highest levels of methyl mercury because they’ve had more time to accumulate it.

Sources: The United States Environmental Protection Agency and The New Engand Journal of Medicine

Written by Sy Kraft, B.A.