A Fish Story

Any time the government issues a health advisory, it must carefully weigh the pros and cons of how it will affect the public. Even after considering all possible ramifications, sometimes there are unintended results. For example, when the government warned women of childbearing age to limit consumption of some fish because of the possibility of harm to a developing child, people overreacted to the message, and consumption of all kinds of fish has gone down.

Eating fish protects against heart disease and stroke. It is generally recommended that people include more fish in their diet. Fish is a good source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids. Eating fish actually helps a developing child, and studies show that cognitive function is better in children whose mothers ate fish while pregnant. The problem with eating fish while pregnant is because of the high mercury content in some fish. The health advisory recommends that fish with high amounts of mercury like tuna and swordfish be limited and that other fish be substituted.
SOURCE: American Journal of Preventive Medicine
http://www.ajpm-online.net/article/PIIS0749379705002539/fulltext

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