Is eating fish safe? A lot safer than not eating fish!

May 19, 2010 - The Healthy Sceptic - Chris Kresser

This is going to be a long article and I know not everyone will have time to read it. So I’m going to summarize the key points right up front because I think this information is so important:

Overview

• Selenium protects against mercury toxicity, and 16 of the 25 highest dietary sources of selenium are ocean fish
• If a fish contains higher levels of selenium than mercury, it is safe to eat
• Most species of commonly eaten fish in the U.S. have more selenium than mercury
• Fish are not significant sources of PCBs and dioxins when compared to meat, dairy or vegetables
• The benefits of eating fish regularly far outweigh the potential risks, which are neglible
• Pregnant mothers and young children should eat 2-3 servings of oily ocean fish each week

These days a lot of people are scared to eat fish. They’ve been told that fish are full of contaminants like mercury, PCBs and dioxins that cause neurological problems and may increase the risk of cancer. Pregnant women have been especially warned due to the supposed risk of these toxins to the developing fetus.