Three years ago, when I was pregnant, I discovered how different the approaches of Russian, European and American doctors to pregnancy management are. To my surprise, on some issues their opinions differed dramatically. For example, only one doctor, when discussing the nutrition of a pregnant woman with me, mentioned the dangers of large ocean fish such as tuna. Guess which country this doctor was from?
So, today I want to write about why pregnant women should not eat tuna. And my opinion about fish in general can be read at this link.
Tuna is a fish that has a very high content of a neurotoxin called methylmercury (as a rule, it is simply called mercury), and some types of tuna generally hold the record for its concentration. For example, the kind that is used to make sushi contains a lot of mercury. But even in light canned tuna, which is generally touted as one of the safest fish species to eat, mercury levels sometimes skyrocket.
Mercury can cause serious birth defects such as blindness, deafness and mental retardation if the fetus is exposed to the toxin during fetal development. An 18-year study of more than 800 children whose mothers ate mercury-containing seafood during pregnancy showed that the toxic effects of prenatal exposure to this neurotoxin on brain function could be irreversible. Even low levels of mercury in mothers’ diets caused the brain to slow down hearing signals in children as young as 14. They also had a deterioration in the neurological regulation of the heart rate.
If you regularly eat fish that is high in mercury, it can build up in your body and damage your baby’s developing brain and nervous system.
Of course, seafood is a great source of protein, iron and zinc – essential nutrients for your baby’s growth and development. In addition, omega-3 fatty acids are essential for the fetus, infants and young children.
Currently, the American Union of Consumers (Consumer Reports) recommends that women who are planning a pregnancy, pregnant women, nursing mothers and young children refrain from consuming meat from large ocean fish, including shark, swordfish, marlin, mackerel, tile, tuna. For the majority of Russian consumers, tuna is the top priority on this list.
Choose salmon, anchovies, herring, sardines, river trout – this fish is safer.