SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Nov. 5, 2002
Hold The Mercury
Doctor Warns That Is Exactly What Some Fish Are Doing
-
A California doctor warns that when it comes to health pros and cons, there's a lot of difference among various types of fish. (AP)
-
Interactive Diet And Nutrition Are you eating right? See the government's guidelines, calculate your body mass index and quiz yourself on healthy food choices.
Dr. Jane Hightower says her patients thought they were doing the right thing by eating pricey menu items like swordfish, sea bass, halibut and tuna steaks. But, those fish have more mercury in them than any others offered consumers.
She says 89 percent of patients with a fish-heavy diet had blood-mercury levels exceeding that deemed safe by the government.
Furthermore, the health benefits of fish come from the fatty varieties, such as salmon, trout and sardines. They have a lot less mercury in them.
Mercury pollution comes from mines, power plants and garbage incinerators. Too much mercury damages the nervous system, especially the brain.
Hightower's findings appear in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.
© MMII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
More From Health
Best-selling author Mitch Albom on his first nonfiction work since "Tuesdays with Morrie."
