mercury
Mercury is a toxic heavy metal to which we’re primarily exposed through fish. Eating tuna, for example, may cause enough brain damage to significantly lower intelligence. It is both a neurotoxin that affects brain function in adults, in teens and in infants, as well as a cardiac toxin that may contribute to atrial fibrillation and fatal heart attack risk. This may counteract the anti-inflammatory benefits of omega-3 fatty acids. Women who eat a lot of fish should consider getting tested for mercury (via hair testing) before getting pregnant. Fish oil supplements and Ayurvedic medicines may also be contaminated with mercury (see also here, here).
Other sources of mercury include factory-farmed chicken and dairy and foods containing high-fructose corn syrup (see here, here). Mercury exposure in amalgam tooth fillings and childhood vaccinations pale in comparison to the amount of mercury exposure that comes from eating fish. Eating a plant-based diet, including plant-based omega 3 supplements instead of fish, would be expected to significantly reduce exposure to toxic heavy metals.
See also the related blog post: Mercury Testing Recommended Before Pregnancy.
Topic summary contributed by Elizabeth Stolle.
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Watch videos about mercury
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Cannibalistic Feed BiomagnificationFeeding meat and bone meal to farm animals may increase the levels of industrial pollutants in animal products.
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Amalgam Fillings vs. Canned TunaEating a can of tuna once a week is equivalent to living with how many mercury-containing amalgam tooth fillings?
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Fish FogThe link between fish consumption and neurobehavioral abnormalities in adults is likely related to mercury toxicity.
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Maternal Mercury LevelsThe resulting loss of child intelligence linked to maternal fish consumption is estimated to cost billions in lost productivity.
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Sexually Transmitted Fish ToxinThere are neurotoxins in certain fish that can survive cooking and cause unusual symptoms.
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Mercury in Corn Syrup?Fifty different brands of high fructose corn syrup containing foods were tested for mercury.
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Sugar vs. Corn SyrupMercury content aside, is high fructose corn syrup worse than table sugar?
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Plant-Based Omega-3 SupplementsBy choosing algae-based sources of long chain omega-3 fatty acids, one may be able to get the benefits of fish consumption without the risks.
