Living Well and Living Wisely Health Tip:

Fish is very nutritious, however, mercury is unquestionably toxic. Even low levels of mercury exposure in pregnant women can cause neurological problems in their children affecting language, hearing and movement. Young children also can be harmed by mercury in the food they eat, because their brains are still actively developing. The Environmental Protection Agency’s safety threshold of blood mercury levels is 5 micrograms per liter.

Fish pick up methylmercury, a form of the element that binds to the protein in their bodies, from micro-organisms in oceans and lakes. As big fish eat little fish, they absorb the methylmercury in their prey. Thus bigger, more mature fish such as swordfish, shark, and tuna carry more of the metal than salmon,  sardines, anchovies and shrimp.

People having high levels of heavy metals suffer symptoms including fatigue, headache, memory loss, and joint aches. Mercury levels generally drop after abstaining from fish for six months.