How to Be a Conscious Eater

who might become pregnant, women nursing infants, and

small children. These groups most definitely should avoid the

following types of fish:

king mackerel // marlin // orange roughy // shark //

swordfish // tilefish (also called golden snapper or

golden bass) // bigeye tuna

In general, large predator fish are riskier from a mercury

standpoint because toxicity concentrates as you go higher up

the food chain. The fat and muscles of fish absorb mercury

from contaminated waters in which they swim. Predator fish

eat lots of smaller fish, so higher amounts build up in their

bodies, whereas fish low on the food chain subsist mostly on

teeny-tiny plants and animals called plankton. Examples of

these small fatty fish are herring, anchovies, and sardines,

which happen to be rich in omega-3s.

Pregnant women: Because of the importance of consuming

DHA and EPA for your growing baby’s brain development and

nervous system, the risks of not eating fish are much higher

BIGGER FISH CONTAIN LARGER, MORE CONCENTRATED AMOUNTS OF MERCURY.

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