131
videos
Seafood
In 2012, researchers from the University of California–Davis, published an analysis of the diets of California kids aged two to seven. Chemicals and heavy metals in children’s bodies from the foods they ate were indeed found to exceed safety levels by a larger margin than in adults. Cancer risk ratios, for instance, were exceeded by a factor of up to one hundred or more. For every child studied, benchmark levels were surpassed for arsenic, the banned pesticide dieldrin, and potentially highly toxic industrial by-products called dioxins. They were also too high for DDE, a by-product of the banned pesticide DDT.
Which foods contributed the most heavy metals? The number-one food source of arsenic was poultry among preschoolers and, for their parents, tuna. The top source for lead? Dairy. For mercury? Seafood.
Those concerned about exposing their children to mercury-containing vaccines should know that eating just a single serving of fish each week during pregnancy can lead to more mercury in their infant’s body than injecting them directly with about a dozen mercury-containing vaccines. We should strive to minimize mercury exposure, but the benefits of vaccination far exceed the risks. The same cannot be said for tuna.
An elite group of Floridians, mostly corporate executives, was studied. They ate so much seafood that at least 43 percent exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s safety limit for mercury, and it appeared to have an effect. The researchers found that excessive seafood intake, which they defined as more than around three to four servings per month of such fish as tuna or snapper, elevates mercury levels and appeared to cause cognitive dysfunction, about a 5 percent drop in cognitive performance.
The information on this page has been compiled from Dr. Greger’s research. Sources for each video listed can be found by going to the video’s page and clicking on the Sources Cited tab. References may also be found at the back of his books.
Image Credit: Pixabay. This image has been modified.
Popular Videos for Seafood
Microplastic Contamination & Seafood Safety
Can ingested plastic particles from fish get into our bloodstream?
Fukushima & Radioactivity in Seafood
The majority of radioactive fallout from the Fukushima nuclear power plant tragedy was absorbed by...
Amnesic Seafood Poisoning
There's a rare toxin, called domoic acid, that can turn up in tuna and other...
Avoiding Fish for 5 Years Before Pregnancy
The problem with fish advisories that tell pregnant women to cut down on fish is...
Allergenic Fish Worms
The role of a parasitic worm in allergic reactions to chicken and fish.
Dioxins in U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish
Feed contaminated with toxic pollutants thought to originate from sewer sludge fed to chickens and...
Farmed Fish vs. Wild-Caught
The levels of industrial pollutants found in aquaculture.
DDT in Fish Oil Supplements
Though banned decades ago, the pesticide DDT persists in the food supply.
Artificial Coloring in Fish
Canthaxanthine feed additives given to farmed fish may be linked to a condition in consumers...All Videos for Seafood
-
Pine Mouth Syndrome: Prolonged Bitter Taste from Certain Pine Nuts
Why do some pine nuts cause a bad taste in your mouth that can last for weeks?
-
The Healthiest Natural Source of Iodine
How much nori, dulse, or arame approximate the recommended daily allowance for iodine?
-
Are Vegans at Risk for Iodine Deficiency?
Most plant-based milks are not fortified with iodine.
-
The Human Health Effects of Cultivated Meat: Chemical Safety
More than 95 percent of human exposure to industrial pollutants like dioxins and PCBs comes from fish, other meat, and dairy.
-
Which Foods Have the Lowest Carbon Footprint?
How much greenhouse gas does the production of different foods cause measured in miles driven or lightbulb hour equivalents?
-
What Not to Eat for Stroke Prevention
What is the relationship between stroke risk and dairy, eggs, meat, and soda?
-
Where Did the COVID-19 Coronavirus Come From?
The role wet markets, wildlife trafficking, and pangolins have played in the emergence of SARS-CoV-2.
-
Stainless Steel or Cast Iron: Which Cookware Is Best? Is Teflon Safe?
What’s the best type of pots and pans to use?
-
Are Aluminum Pots, Bottles, and Foil Safe?
DNA damage is assessed in users of aluminum cookware.
-
What Are the Best Foods?
A review of reviews on the health effects of animal foods versus plant foods.
-
Avoiding Fish for 5 Years Before Pregnancy
The problem with fish advisories that tell pregnant women to cut down on fish is that it may be too late for certain persistent pollutants.
-
Oxalates in Spinach and Kidney Stones: Should We Be Concerned?
Even though dietary oxalates may have a limited effect on kidney stone risk in most people, there are some predisposing factors that can put anyone at risk.
