Including Fish in Your Fertility Diet And Avoiding Mercury

Most seafood is a vital source of omega-3 fatty acids, specifically EPA and DHA, both of which are responsible for the appropriate development of the brain and eyes of a foetus. In addition to that, fish is high in vitami
D, protein, and other nutrients which are essential for a healthy pregnancy and for the overall development of a baby.

However, off late, there has been a conce
of many types of fish containing high levels of mercury, which in high doses, has been known to harm the development of the nervous system and brain of a baby. Here is how you can include fish in your fertility diet to benefit from its omega-3 and yet steer clear of its mercury content.

How fish contain mercury

Mercury is all around us, in the air we breathe, in natural sources such as forest fires and volcanoes and even in fumes that are released by industrial and chemical plants and manufacturers. When this mercury settles into water, the bacteria in the water convert it to methylmercury, which fish readily absorb. This methylmercury fuses to the proteins in fish muscle and retains its form even after the fish is cooked.

What happens when you eat fish that is high in mercury?

Many of the top infertility consultants in India will tell you that the human body absorbs methylmercury fairly easily, and stores it for months on end. This mercury tends to cross into e placenta of a pregnant woman too. According to recent studies by some of the top infertility clinics in Pune, methylmercury in high doses during pregnancy could result in impaired development of a baby’s nervous system and brain. In addition to that, language, vision, motor skills and even cognitive skills like attention and memory may be affected in a child that has been exposed to high mercury levels.

Women who are planning to get pregnant, are pregnant or nursing their infants, as well as the infants themselves are most susceptible to mercury. It hasn’t yet been determined exactly what levels of mercury are harmful, but experts believe that avoiding fish that have been known to have high mercury content is advisable. However, it is important for women who planning to get pregnant not to eliminate seafood from their diet altogether. It’s all about striking the right balance.

Fish that have high mercury content

On an average, there are four main types of fish that women of childbearing age should avoid eating due to their high levels of mercury, namely, swordfish, shark, tilefish and king mackerel. Other fish to avoid are Chilean sea bass, frozen or fresh tuna, bluefish, striped bass, marlin, golden snapper, orange roughy, Crevalle jack, and amberjack, to name a few.

Fish that are safe to eat

While there is a constant debate among the top infertility clinics in Pune about which fish are safe to eat, you may eat up to 350 grams of any shellfish or fish apart from swordfish, shark, tilefish and king mackerel. There are other infertility consultants in India who will advise you to avoid fish altogether. Fish that should find their way into your fertility diet are salmon, rainbow trout, herring, anchovies, mackerel, whitefish and sardines, all of which are known to be high in healthy fats in low in mercury. You could also get your omage-3 content from food such as yogurt, milk, eggs, cereal, and soy beverages.