Should we stop eating fish?
This article doesn't even take into account the most current questions about the effects of radio activity from Japan or the chems and damage in the Gulf oil spill. Sadly I've given up eating fish and I've read that many cautious people in Japan are changing their diets away from fish. Maybe one result will be that in reducing fish in our diets we'll give the sea a much needed rest. When will we learn to practice and enforce sustainable fishing practices?
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SHOULD WE STOP EATING FISH?
Fish has long been associated with a healthy diet. Its low in calories and rich in beneficial Omega-3 fatty acids. Whether we order fish off a restaurant menu or buy it at the fish market to cook at home, it is a popular and healthy meal choice. So, eat fish and be healthy, right? But there's a catch. Due to pollution and other environmental factors, some fish contain unhealthy amounts of mercury, PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyl), and parasites. In order to gain the health benefits of fish while avoiding the toxins and other dangers associated with it, its important to understand which types of fish we should be eating and how much is safe to eat.
How do toxins get into the fish? Chemical manufacturers and coal-burning industrial plants are the main source. These facilities release mercury into the air and rain washes it down into our rivers, lakes, and oceans, where interaction with anaerobic organisms converts it into methylmercury. Fish and shellfish absorb this toxin as they feed and it builds up in the tissue of the animal over time. Thus, the larger the fish, the higher its mercury content.
What are the risks to fish eaters from these substances?
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http://www.thedailymeal.com/should-we-stop-eating-fish/42314
yuiyoshida
(41,831 posts)I have a choice of poultry or sea food. I refuse to go back and eat hamburger or steak. I refuse to eat bacon, or sausage. There are many places in the world that commercial fisherman can fish, including the waters off Alaska. THIS is a big planet with lots of ocean. It is not entirely toxic yet, but many will have you believe it is... I for one will not be afraid nor ignore my favorite sea food dishes.
They_Live
(3,233 posts)anymore.
Cal33
(7,018 posts)These degenerates!!!