Eat Fish, the Benefit Outweighs the Risk

 FDA recently provided guidance that pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers and young children should be eating fish.  For many years, women have avoided eating seafood due to the potential for that seafood may contain Methylmercury. a neurotoxin that can be harmful to the brain and nervous system if a person is exposed to too much of it.  Of course, this could be a concern for child development.  FDA revised previous advise because the nutrients in seafood, namely the omega 3 fatty acids are really good for health - including brain function and cardiovascular health.

Now some fish are better than others in that some species are more likely to have higher amounts, so these fish should be avoided by high risk groups - Tilefish from the Gulf of Mexico, shark, swordfish, and king mackerel.

Eggs were once demonized because of cholesterol, but now we realize that they aren't bad.  So we see once again a balanced diet that incorporates a wide variety of foods is important.   It is important to evaluate the benefits as well as the risks, and make sure that we are not giving up a lot of food because we are afraid of a little of the bad.

 FDA News Release
http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodborneIllnessContaminants/Metals/ucm393070.htm
Fish: What Pregnant Women and Parents Should Know
Draft Updated Advice by FDA and EPA

June 2014

The FDA and the EPA are revising their joint fish consumption Advice and Questions & Answers to encourage pregnant women, those who may become pregnant, breastfeeding mothers, and young children to eat more fish and to eat a variety of fish from choices that are lower in mercury. This is a DRAFT for which you may provide comment. Once finalized, it will replace the current advice which was issued in 2004.