Dangers of eating sardines

Risks of eating sardines

Sardines are considered one of the healthiest foods to eat because they contain omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA which reduce cholesterol levels and benefit heart. However one downfall of eating too much fish is the possibility of consuming too much mercury, which is found in a variety of ocean fish in varying amounts. While extremely low amount of mercury are not harmful to your health, eating excessive quantities of fish that contain higher than normal levels of mercury could cause detrimental health conditions. Fortunately, sardines are a type of fish that generally contains minimal amounts of mercury and usually poses no health risk.    

WHAT IS MERCURY?

Mercury is a naturally occurring mineral that is also released into the atmosphere via industrial pollution. Dropping from the air into the ocean and other bodies of water, mercury is converted into methylmercury once it touches the water. Fish cannot help but absorb this substance in to their bodies, where it accumulates and causes problems when human eat fish that have been contaminated. According to the environmental protection agency, if you are regularly eat types of fish that are high in methylmercury, it can accumulate in your blood stream over time. Methylmercury is removed from the body naturally, but it may take over a year for the levels to drop significantly." Symptoms of mercury poisoning.

Symptoms of mercury poisoning resemble symptoms of arsenic poisoning - vision impairment, especially in peripheral vision; a feeling  of "pins and needles" in the extremities and mouth area; uncoordinated movements; speech difficulties and extreme muscle weakness. The National institutes of  health states that organic mercury poisoning is treated by administering chelators, substances that eliminate mercury from the system. Occasionally, chelator medication must be taken for several weeks to several months in order to be effective. How many sardines can be safely eaten.

According to Dr. Tamir Katz, says that pregnant women and children can probably eat two or three servings of sardines each week, and others can probably safety consume three to six servings weekly. Other fish that contain amounts of mercury similar to sardines include salmon , canned Atlantic Mackerel, canned light tuna, flounder , smelt , whitefish and haddock. They also can be eaten in the Same amounts as sardines, with the same limits for pregnant women and children. Large fish that live long lives contain the highest amounts of mercury. They include sharks, king mackerels, tilefish and swordfish.    

When  sardines are eaten in recommended amounts, they provide a variety of health benefits. In addition to omega 3 fatty acids, sardines also provide rich amounts of vitamin B-12 an important vitamin for cardiovascular health. It also reduces levels of homocysteine,  a substance that can harm arterial walls and promote atherosclerosis. Sardines also contain calcium and vitamin D, which are necessary for bone health and the prevention of osteoporosis. Selenium is another beneficial nutrient found in sardines. It contributes antioxidant activity, which may reduce the risk of certain cancers.