High Mercury Fish Causes Skin Cancer

High Mercury Fish Causes Skin Cancer – Fish is healthy food and can boost overall health. But, sadly, because of pollution of our seas and rivers, many fishes contain small to large traces of mercury which could cause skin cancer.

A person’s diet defines his or her health. Most health-conscious people try to include healthy foods in their diet to achieve optimum health. And, fish and shellfish are an important part of a healthy diet. They 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 is very beneficial for heart health and proper growth and development for children. So, experts have always said that women, and young children in particular, should include fish in their diets due to its numerous nutritional benefits. But now, some experts are saying that including fish in your diet may increase your risk of melanoma, a type of skin cancer. This will, no doubt, come as a shock to fish lovers. But why are experts saying this about healthy food?

Pollution As A Factor

Fish is a healthy food and can boost overall health. But, sadly, because of pollution of our seas and rivers, many fish and shellfish contain traces of mercury. The risk from mercury by eating fish and shellfish is not a health concern if they contain low levels of mercury. But with the increasing environmental pollution, some fishes contain very high levels of mercury that will harm an unborn baby or a even a young child’s developing nervous system. Recent research has also linked mercury exposure to higher risks of melanoma and other skin cancers, noted Cho, an associate professor at Brown University’s Warren Alpert Medical School, in Providence, R.I.

Methyl Mercury In Water Is The Culprit

Mercury is known to occurs naturally in the environment. But it can also be released into the air through industrial pollution. Mercury falls from the air and can accumulate in streams and oceans and converts into methyl mercury in the waterbodies. Marine organisms absorb the methyl mercury as they feed in these waters and that is how mercury levels develop inside fishes. It builds up more in some type of fishes more than others. The level of mercury build up depends on what the fishes eat.

Harmful Effects Of Mercury

Mercury can accumulate in your blood stream over time. Methylmercury is removed from the body naturally, but it may take over a year for the levels to drop significantly. It may even be present in a woman before she becomes pregnant. It is this type of mercury that can be harmful to you and your unborn baby or young child.

Tips To Follow & Mercury Low Fishes To Eat

By following these recommendations for selecting and eating fish or shellfish, women and young children will receive the benefits of this food and be confident that they have reduced their exposure to the harmful effects of mercury.

Do not eat shark, swordfish, king mackerel, or tilefish because they contain high levels of mercury.
Eat up to 12 ounces (2 average meals) a week of a variety of fish and shellfish that are lower in mercury.
Five of the most commonly eaten fish that are low in mercury are shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, pollock, and catfish.
Another commonly eaten fish, albacore (‘white’) tuna has more mercury than canned light tuna. So, when choosing your two meals of fish and shellfish, you may eat up to 6 ounces (one average meal) of albacore tuna per week.
Check local advisories about the safety of fish caught by family and friends in your local lakes, rivers, and coastal areas.
Dieticians recommend up to 6 ounces (one average meal) per week of fish caught from local waters.

Fish per se is not unhealthy. But pollution of our rivers and seas are making them unhealthy. So, follow all the recommendations and get the all benefits of this wonderful food.