Guide to Alternative Medicine and the Digestive System

Anil Minocha, MD FACP FACG

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Chapter 69: Fish Type and Risk of Mercury Toxicity: All Fish Are Not the Same (continued)

KEY POINTS Fish is considered to be heart healthy. An appropriate selection of fish allows for health benefits without increasing mercury toxicity. BACKGROUND1 Fish contain high amounts of cardioprotective omega-3 fatty acids. Ingestion of fish (eg, 1 to 2 servings per week) reduces the risk of coronary death by 36%. The mercury content of predatory fish is higher because they eat other fish containing mercury and indirectly attain higher levels than the fish at the lower end of the food chain. The beneficial effect of fish intake can…