So we keep hearing about mercury in fish swimming in the ocean. Ever wondered what fish isn’t fishy to eat? Meaning which ones are safer than the others. Well good news is that not all fish are high in mercury, but some are and should be avoided. But how do we know? The encyclopedia of fish? Is there such a thing? No idea.
The best way to determine whether fish is high or low in mercury is to look its size and lifespan. Big fish like say whale and shark live a long time and eat lots of little fish. The bioaccumulate all the mercury from the smaller fish into their body over time. So anything as huge as a whale or shark you should most certainly stay away from. But I don’t eat whales. True but some people in Japan still do i read. Some people eat shark and shark fins. Still stay away as mercury will bioaccumulate in your body and cause all sorts of neurological problems.
What other fish that normal people eat can be high in mercury? Tuna is one of them surprisingly. Those cans or tins aren’t good for you if you eat them often enough. This holds especially true for the white albacore tuna which is bigger and lives longer than skipjack/ light tuna. Tuna seems safe but there are better choices. Ever seen how big tuna is at a fish market or on TV? They are huge. That should tell you all need to know. It takes a long time and lots of fish eating to get that big. See bioaccumulation works. That is why they are higher in mercury as you go up the food chain. If you are pregnant stay away.
Now what is more safe? Smaller, shorter lived fish and sea critters.
- Salmon: Short lived, full of omega 3 and tasty
- Small fish like anchovies, herring
- Shrimp
- Lobster
- Clams
- Other small fish I am sure
- Fish oil that is molecularly distilled
So next time you opt for sushi maybe opt for the salmon roll instead of tuna sushi. The mercury in fish is methyl mercury which is readily absorbed by the body. It bioaccumulates, makes its way to the brain and causes problems. Did I tell you mercury is strongly linked to dementia and Alzheimers? I have a post on this with the articles to back it up. Do you want to end up in a memory care home at $10,000 per month instead of enjoying your retirement on the beach in sunny France or Florida? Then stay away as mercury is very difficult to remove from the body once it is there.
If you do need to remove it I recommend liposomal glutathione as the agent. I have some posts also on this topic. It works well, can be bought without a prescription and is relatively cheap. Plus is is really good for your skin as it is a powerful antioxidant.
Mr. Cash Hoarder 