KHOU: Study finds unsafe mercury levels in 84 percent of all fish

[China]

Study finds unsafe mercury levels in 84 percent of all fish

NEW YORK -- A new study from the Biodiversity Research Institute in Maine found that 84 percent of fish have unsafe levels of mercury. That poses a health risk for humans, exceeding the guidelines for eating certain kinds of fish more than once a month.

Reducing mercury pollution is on the agenda of the United Nations conference this week in Geneva, where delegations are expected to put the finishing touches on a treaty backed by the United States.

Richard Gelfond always considered himself athletic, until one day, something went very wrong.

"I went running, and it felt like I was going to fall over," said Gelfond, adding it had something to do with his balance.

Gelfond, who is the CEO of the movie company IMAX, consulted doctors on both coasts. They had no answers. He was worried.

"It got to the point where I really couldn't cross the street. I had to hold my wife's hand," Gelfond said.

Many tests later, a neurologist asked Gelfond if he ate a lot of fish. He did, twice a day. The diagnosis was mercury poisoning.

"I thought I was doing something really good for my body, and it turned out I was doing something really bad for my body," Gelfond said.

Eating fish is the principal way people get mercury poisoning. Tuna and swordfish contain the most mercury, which can permanently damage the brain and kidneys. Because mercury pollution is global, no country alone can rid its food supply of contamination.

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[Tulane Skins Fan]

There's nothing left for me to eat.

[Heidenreich]

My gf just started with the fish. Now I can get out of that and back to steak

[China]

There's nothing left for me to eat.

You could eat calamari. Oh wait, that might be pig bung. Nevermind.

[Predicto]

Swordfish is bad news. Luckily, my favorite fish is salmon, and it has very low levels of mercury.

[Special K]

Good Lord. Next up someone is going tell me vegetarian foods have high plutonium levels.

[d0ublestr0ker0ll]

I used to scarf tuna constantly, and dizziness was definitely a side effect. Now I use salmon and chicken as my main sources of meat protein. Tuna once a week, maybe twice.

[Die Hard]

Good Lord. Next up someone is going tell me vegetarian foods have high plutonium levels.

Come on now We`ve known this for a very long time. Fish are bottom-feeders of the earth. What else would you expect.

[elkabong82]

Damn it. I eat fish several times a week too. Though it does sound like you have to do what this guy did and eat fish twice a day, every day to potentially be affected. I'll probably still stick with eating fish 2-3 times a week, it's usually tilapia, which advisory says two 6 oz servings a week is fine.

Tuna canned chunk light is also what I like, and that apparently is limit of six 6 oz servings a month.

http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pre...ishmercury.htm

[Special K]

Come on now We`ve known this for a very long time. Fish are bottom-feeders of the earth. What else would you expect.

My bad. Rereading what I wrote made it clear to me that I need to not make sarcastically-dramatic-thinking-out-loud posts on this board

My sarcasm wasn't meant to infer that I don't believe this new report as this is not new news. I've (as well as most thinking people) known this for a long time now. I wasn't aware unsafe levels were prevalent on this wide of scale, but yes, aware that many fish do contain mercury.

Over the past several months, I have been cutting out a lot of foods from my diet and switching primarily to a plant-based diet (although I still occasionally will eat salmon and organic chicken). I was just bemoaning the fact that even my new dietary practices are going to be deemed unsafe soon.

[twa]

ban fluorescent lights

[Die Hard]

Over the past several months, I have been cutting out a lot of foods from my diet and switching primarily to a plant-based diet (although I still occasionally will eat salmon and organic chicken). I was just bemoaning the fact that even my new dietary practices are going to be deemed unsafe soon.

I know where you`re coming from. I`ve undergone a similar dietary change as well. And if you`ve studied it as much as I have... then you`re well aware that the best diet recommended by top medical experts (past and present) seems to be a raw vegan diet. Sooner or later, we all confront that reality,,, and decide how important our health is to us. Most of us compromise to varying degrees.

Diet is a part of health. A big part. But it`s not the only part.

[Alaskins]

My gf just started with the fish. Now I can get out of that and back to steak

There's some sort of hidden double-meaning in your post isn't there?

[Special K]

I know where you`re coming from. I`ve undergone a similar dietary change as well. And if you`ve studied it as much as I have... then you`re well aware that the best diet recommended by top medical experts (past and present) seems to be a raw vegan diet. Sooner or later, we all confront that reality,,, and decide how important our health is to us. Most of us compromise to varying degrees.

Diet is a part of health. A big part. But it`s not the only part.

We might not see eye to eye on vaccines, but I'm right there with you on diet's importance to our health and wellness. Not sure if I'll ever go raw vegan, I'm not that hardcore

But, cutting out a large part of my dairy intake (which was exceedingly high prior to my "enlightenment" and seriously elevated my triglyceride and LDL levels...which I'm ashamed to admit, being in public health) and including a lot more raw fruits and veggies to my meals has made such a difference in my energy levels, ability to stave off sickness, and sleep patterns (although I'm still working on breaking myself of my bad sleep habits). While I am not in agreement with diet curing everything from polio to MS to an arm fracture (as is one of my fringe-residing nutritionist friends ), it's obvious it is one of the most important aspects to an individual's well-being.

Anyway, diet is a very interesting topic and is one of the big reasons I'm headed back to school to study preventive care.

[Stadium-Armory]

My wife is a raw pescatarian (as she calls it). She only eats raw, but includes raw fish, otherwise the rest is vegetables and such.

She is the healthiest person I know.