Mercury, a toxic substance, is found in large quantities in fish and shellfish. The ancients used to swallow mercury to commit suicide; now, will people eat fish to end their own lives! Are you a crazy fish lover? Then, for all those people who consider fish and shellfish to be healthy foods, sorry, this is really bad news.
Sashimi, grilled fish, pickled fish head, hot and sour fish, shark's fin... and my personal favorite, boiled fish and sour soup fish, I believe many people are just like me, die-hard "fish fans". Now, however, doctors say they have one thing in common—they can all be contaminated with mercury! In recent years, experts have begun to suspect that mercury, a heavy metal toxin, can exacerbate the risk of cardiovascular diseases. The medical community has found that mercury has no physiological function in our bodies, only toxicity. And due to modern environmental pollution (especially in the oceans), the fish we eat daily have become a major pathway for mercury to enter our bodies; fish themselves contain large amounts of beneficial unsaturated fats, but the benefits to the cardiovascular system are completely negated by the toxicity of mercury. Therefore, eating a lot of fish has become harmful to your health! Please pay attention to the following research report from Bazaar. Can mercury pose a potential threat to my health?
Mercury is toxic, and its toxicity is especially a serious threat to pregnant women, nursing mothers, and children under six. Mercury can cross the placenta and directly damage the development of the fetal nervous system, greatly affecting the child's future cognitive and motor skills. There is also evidence that mercury can increase blood pressure and raise the risk of heart attacks in adults. In addition, it is the root cause of some immune system diseases, such as sclerosis of various organs. Is eating fish the main cause of mercury poisoning?
Yes. Mercury is released into the air through exhaust from heavy industry factories and power plants, and this toxic gas pollutes the surrounding waters—that is, of course, the reproductive environment for fish. If your husband likes to go fishing and cook his catch at home, be careful. First, check if there are any factories near the fishing spot. What fish should we not eat?
The larger the fish, the more mercury it will contain. We should eat less of large fish, no more than twice a month. Shark's fin, swordfish, mackerel, catfish, and bighead carp all contain very high levels of mercury. Eat less. Which fish or seafood are safe?
Oysters, shrimp, flounder, and scallops have relatively the lowest levels of mercury. And even if you choose "healthier" options like trout, shrimp, Pacific salmon, yellow croaker, mid-Atlantic blue crab, and black sea bass, you should only eat them two to three times a week, as eating more can still lead to mercury poisoning. Salmon also has low mercury levels, but it has other hazards. People are now aware that farmed salmon may contain large amounts of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which can cause liver, intestinal, and skin cancer. The feed for farmed salmon is mostly dead fish or contaminated fish oil, and environmental organizations recommend that this farmed fish should not be a regular food, eaten no more than four times a month. Of course, wild salmon is absolutely safe and non-toxic. How do I know if my mercury levels are too high?
You can go to a hospital for a blood mercury test. If you're afraid of pain or faint at the sight of blood, get a hair test instead. Mercury in hair cannot be washed out, so it can be used as a basis for testing. If you are planning to have a child, you must get this test done! It is very important for the health of the fetus! There are many obvious signs of excessive mercury levels, and you can compare them now. Do you get tired easily, have frequent headaches, poor memory, or find it hard to concentrate? Or more seriously, nausea, vomiting, hair loss, joint pain? The Ms. Lin we interviewed was a fanatic for Japanese sashimi. In the past six years, she suffered from "bronchitis, frequent colds, pain in acupuncture points, and excessive sleepiness." After examining her, her doctor concluded that her mercury levels were too high. Six months ago, she completely gave up eating fish, and most of her symptoms disappeared. Pathologists believe that Ms. Lin's condition is a typical case of mercury poisoning. What else should I pay attention to?
In addition to food, you should try not to buy mercury thermometers, thermostats, or anything with fluorescent functions. If they break and mercury leaks out, you need to have it handled by a professional. Also, modern dental fillings contain a small amount of mercury. Because the amount is very small, they are basically non-toxic. However, if you have extremely sensitive gums or more than six dental fillings, you should be careful.