Living with depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder  

Learn how to keep a mood chart, manage your anxiety,
sleep easier, help someone with depression and more!
Order helpful Mental Health Tip Sheets.
Home Articles Resources About us Quick Tips Educational materials

Find us again!
Click here, then add the page to your Favorites or Bookmarks.

Over 250 articles on:

  • Mood, anxiety
  • Treatments
  • Medications
  • Lifestyles
  • Personal stories

Moodletter provides information, hope and help to people living with depression, anxiety or bipolar disorder and those who care for them.

©2006-2011 Deborah Wiig
All rights reserved


HONcode accreditation seal.We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information:
verify here.

  		  
Omega 3 fatty acids can ease symptoms of mood disorders
But what about mercury?
 

Have you read these?

 
The safety of fish due to mercury contamination has been in the spotlight recently. But most of us can still safely benefit from the Omega 3 fatty acids and other important nutrients that fish and shellfish provide.

Methylmercury found in fish has been linked to neurological damage and increased heart attack risk, but the most recent research has shown that it may be less toxic than previously thought, in part, because the selenium that is also present in fish protects against mercury exposure. And while nearly all fish and shellfish contain traces of mercury, some types have higher levels than others.

For most people, the risk from mercury and other contaminants by eating fish and shellfish is not a health concern. But the US Food and Drug Administration and other sources advise us to make smart choices. Fish with the lowest levels of mercury include canned salmon, wild Alaskan salmon, shrimp, catfish, clams, oysters and sardines. Farmed salmon harvested from U.S or Canadian waters can also be a good choice. Choose canned light tuna rather than canned white albacore tuna and limit consumption of canned tuna to two to three servings per week.

To find mercury levels in commercial fish and shellfish FDA/Center for Food Safety

 

 

Mothers and young children are most at risk
Most at risk from mercury found in fish are women who may become pregnant, pregnant women, nursing mothers, and young children. They should not eat the types of fish and shellfish with higher levels of mercury, such as shark, swordfish, king mackerel, or tilefish. They should eat only those that have lower levels, such as shrimp, pollock, salmon and catfish. Canned light tuna is a good choice, however, they should eat no more than six ounces of albacore tuna, which is higher in mercury than light tuna, in one week.

Women in this category should eat no more than 12 ounces of fish or shellfish each week; young children no more than six ounces each week. They should not eat the same type of fish or shellfish two times in the same week.

Related articles
Fish oil for mental health
More articles

Sources
FDA/EPA
University of Wisconsin


Page updated March 1, 2011