There is no doubt that the food chain is being poisoned by modern society. There is a need to change our lifestyle choices and to move to a more sustainable form of living.
While urgent attention is required to transition to sustainable living, everybody is seeking alternatives to the ever growing problem of toxicity in foods. Toxicity comes in many forms, in meat and chicken it can be the use of antibiotics or hormones for growth promotion (see report by CBC News), in vegetables and fruits the use of pesticides (See Consumers Report Pesticide Report) or the contamination of organic products by GMOs (See Food and Water Watch GMO Contamination Report), and in fish the bioaccumulation of mercury just to name a few.
Fish consumption is especially important because the nutrients found in fish which include, omega 3 fish oils (EPA and DHA) and Vitamin D are very important for health. Some of the claimed potential benefits of consumption of Omega 3 Fish Oils are:
- Improves heart health, including reducing triglycerides, decreasing blood pressure, improving blood thinning, and improving blood vessel health (heart disease)
- Decreases inflammation (a component of many health conditions including chronic pain, arthritis, and inflammatory bowel diseases)
- Improves metabolism and body composition, i.e. fat loss and muscle gain
- Helps support the development of the eyes and eye health
- Improves cognitive function and brain health
- Assists with brain development in infants and children
- Improves focus and concentration in individuals with attention disorders
- Stabilize mood imbalances, such as depression
- Improves skin health, including conditions such as eczema
Methyl mercury (MeHg) is the predominant form of mercury found in fish and is almost completely absorbed by the gut, crosses the blood brain barrier and the placenta. WHO guidelines established in 1997 set maximum consumption of 0.20 μg MM of per kg of body weight per day to prevent fetal/infant neurodevelopment defects in pregnant woman.
Canada Mercury in Fish Health Risk Assessment establishes the Probable Daily intake of MeHg depending on consumed fish for different age groups if they were to regularly consume each type of fish to the exclusion of other types of fish.
| Fish Species | Mean [MeHg] (μg/g) | PDI (μg/kg bw/day) | ||
| Gen (60 kg) | 5-11 yrs (26.4 kg) | 1-4 yrs (14.4 kg) | ||
| Barracuda B from the U.S.
Barracuda B not from U.S. |
0.77
0.12 |
0.28
0.04 |
0.41
0.06 |
0.53 0.08 |
| Cod | 0.06 | 0.02 | 0.03 | 0.04 |
| Cusk | 0.35 | 0.13 | 0.19 | 0.24 |
| Escolar | 0.53 | 0.19 | 0.28 | 0.37 |
| Grouper | 0.45 | 0.17 | 0.24 | 0.31 |
| Halibut | 0.31 | 0.11 | 0.16 | 0.22 |
| Marlin | 0.69 | 0.25 | 0.37 | 0.48 |
| Orange Roughy / Slimehead | 0.47 | 0.17 | 0.25 | 0.33 |
| Sablefish / Black cod | 0.20 | 0.07 | 0.11 | 0.14 |
| Sauger | 0.46 | 0.17 | 0.24 | 0.32 |
| Sea Bass | 0.62 | 0.23 | 0.33 | 0.43 |
| Shark | 1.36 | 0.50 | 0.72 | 0.94 |
| Shark (Spiny Dogfish, Northern Shark) | 0.64 | 0.23 | 0.34 | 0.44 |
| Shark, Portbeagle | 0.87 | 0.32 | 0.46 | 0.60 |
| Shrimp / Prawn | 0.05 | 0.02 | 0.03 | 0.03 |
| Swordfish | 1.82 | 0.67 | 0.97 | 1.26 |
| Tuna, albacore, canned | 0.36 | 0.13 | 0.19 | 0.25 |
| Tuna, albacore, fresh or frozen | 0.37 | 0.14 | 0.20 | 0.26 |
| Tuna, skipjack, canned | 0.06 | 0.02 | 0.03 | 0.04 |
| Tuna, yellowfin, canned | 0.05 | 0.02 | 0.03 | 0.03 |
| Tuna, yellowfin, fresh | 0.29 | 0.11 | 0.15 | 0.20 |
| Tuna, canned (species not specified) | 0.14 | 0.05 | 0.07 | 0.10 |
| Tuna, Bigeye | 0.65 | 0.24 | 0.34 | 0.45 |
| Tuna, Southern Bluefin | 0.28 | 0.10 | 0.15 | 0.19 |
| Tuna, fresh or frozen (species not specified) | 0.93 | 0.34 | 0.49 | 0.65 |
| Wahoo | 0.31 | 0.11 | 0.16 | 0.22 |
| Walleye / Yellow Pickerel | 0.37 | 0.14 | 0.20 | 0.26 |
Form this table, Cod, Shrimp and Light Tuna have the lowest MeHg and regular consumption will not exceed WHO established maximum daily intake.
But MeHg accumulates over time in the body, and there is the possibility that even at these low levels, in susceptible individuals mercury contamination will not be acceptable.
Regular detoxification for mercury is an available option for those wishing to reduce the burden in their body. There are natural ways to detoxify mercury. If you wish to know more you can book an appointment.
