Why Eating Fish Is Even More Dangerous Than You Thought

BY ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING GROUP
JANUARY 21, 2014 5:08 AM EST

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Bad news for seafood lovers: fish isn't quite as healthy as we've been led to believe. If you eat fish regularly, chances are you're getting too much mercury and too few omega-3s. That's the conclusion of a report released today from the Environmental Working Group.

While US Dietary Guidelines encourage Americans to eat up to 12 ounces of a seafood (about three servings) a week, the EWG has discovered that this may be dangerously high for some people.

EWG’s analysis of mercury and omega-3 concentrations in seafood finds that 10 of the most popular seafoods in the American market would pose an unacceptable mercury risk to an average-weight pregnant woman who ate amount recommended by the government each week. Since safe mercury levels are based on body weight, lighter women are at greater risk from mercury in seafood.

And for folks eating fish because they're hoping to get their omega-3 fats, which have been shown to lower cardiac risks, and boost infant brain development, there's more grim news. The EWG concluded that many people won't benefit as much as they hope, because 8 of the 10 most popular types of seafood, including shrimp and catfish, rank low for healthy omega-3 fats.

EWG investigated mercury contamination and beneficial omega-3 levels in seafood in order to identify species that offer the greatest health benefit and lowest mercury risk.

If you're going to eat fish, the EWG recommends the following:

Anchovies
Herring
Mussels
Salmon
Sardines
Shad
Trout

All of these can provide ample omega-3s while posing little mercury risk when eaten once or twice weekly.

Avoid these fish, which have the highest levels of mercury and the lowest levels of Omega 3s.

Canned Albacore Tuna
Halibut
King Mackerel
Sea bass
Shark
Spanish and Atlantic Mackerel
Swordfish
Tilefish
Tuna Steaks

You can read the complete report here.

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.com

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About the Author

Environmental Working Group

The Environmental Working Group is the nation’s most effective environmental health research and advocacy organization. Our mission is to conduct original, game-changing research that inspires people, businesses and governments to take action to protect human health and the environment. With your help—and with the help of hundreds of organizations with whom we partner—we are creating a healthier and cleaner environment for the next generation and beyond.

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