FOODS HIGH. IN MERCURY AND THEIR EFFECTS ON-THE HUMAN BODY:
Dave Ikiedei Asei
26/01/2023
According to Reviewed by Kathleen M. Zelman, RD, LD, MPH on November 10, 2022, Chemical element mercury may be found in many forms in soil, water, and the atmosphere. Inorganic mercury compounds like mercury salts, organic mercury compounds like methylmercury, and elemental mercury may all be found in the earth's crust.
This means that food is the most likely cause of methylmercury exposure out of all the other possible sources. Methylmercury is created when organic carbon-containing molecules found in airborne inorganic mercury mix to produce water droplets that then reach the soil, lakes, rivers, or seas and contaminate food supplies.
It can contaminate nearby crops if it gets into the soil. If it gets into the water, it can build up in the marine food web, with bigger species having the largest concentrations.
WHY MERCURY SHOULD NOT BE USED:
Mercury is a poisonous element that, if exposed to in excess, may have a variety of negative impacts on your health. These differences rely on the kind of mercury you are exposed to, whether or not you are thought to be particularly susceptible to its effects, and how long you are exposed to this heavy metal.
The following neurological and behavioral problems might arise from methylmercury exposure:
• Tremors; • Anxiety; • Mood swings; • Memory problems
• Muscle weakness; difficulty walking; loss of motor skills; breathing difficulties; vision and speech impairments; depression; numbness or a pins-and-needles sensation.
CERTAIN FOODS SHOULD NEVER BE EATEN
According to the review by Kathleen M. Zelma , Your kidney, lungs, digestive system, or cardiovascular system might suffer serious or even deadly consequences if you are exposed to excessive levels of mercury from food or other sources.
SAFE LEVELS FOR MERCURY-CONTAINING FOOD:
Foods like fish and seafood are crucial because they provide you with a lot of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, vitamin B12, and other minerals. While you should avoid meals rich in mercury, you should still consume seafood because of its advantages for your health.
The weekly safe mercury intake for shellfish is 1 part per million (ppm). Choose seafood with a low mercury content and limit your weekly consumption to one or two meals to stay below this line.
Those who are nursing or pregnant women who are pregnant or nursing consume between 8 and 12 ounces of different seafood from mercury-free options.
FOOD WITH MERCURY:
Although freshwater fish can contain mercury, the majority of food sources rich in mercury originate from saltwater species like fish and other sea creatures. While you could consume trace quantities of mercury through food crops, some fish are the main source of your exposure.
IF YOU WANT TO STAY AWAY FROM INTAKE OF DIETARY MERCURY, AVOID THESE FOODS:
1 Swordfish\s
2 .Swordfish, a predatory fish that lives in several oceanic zones, is one of the main sources of mercury. Its maximum mercury loads, averaging 3.22 ppm, are on average 0.995 ppm.
3 Sharks
4 The shark's mercury burden is comparable to that of swordfish. As a predatory species, sharks typically have mercury levels of 0.979 ppm on average, with higher levels.
5 Seven King Mackerel
8 King mackerel follows, with an average mercury content of 0.73 ppm. In certain instances, this species can reach 1.67 ppm. Nine bigeye tuna 10 Bigeye tuna, the second-largest species of tuna after bluefin, can maintain a mercury burden as high as 1.816 ppm and as low as 0.689 ppm on average.
11 Marlin 12 This swiftly moving species can acquire mercury levels as high as 0.92 ppm and as low as 0.485 ppm on average. Orange Roughy, 13 orange roughy.
14 A kind of deep-sea fish called the orange roughy has a lifespan of at least 100 years. With an average load of 0.571 ppm and a maximum of 1.12 ppm, the long lifetime might result in substantial mercury burdens. 15 Spanish sea bass 16 Chilean sea bass, a slow-growing species that dwells in deep waters and has a 50-year life span, is another. It can have up to 2.18 ppm of mercury, with an average mercury load of 0.354.
MERCAPTAN-LESS ALTERNATIVES:
1 Shrimp
2.Astaxanthin, a carotenoid that supports your neurological and musculoskeletal systems, is abundant in this shellfish. In addition, selenium, vitamin B12, copper, and omega-
3 fatty acids are all abundant in shrimp. The mercury burden is only 0.009 ppm on average, with higher readings of 0.05 ppm. 3 Salmon 4 Although salmon from farms contains omega-3s, wild salmon is a better source of these beneficial fatty acids for the heart and brain. Salmon can contain up to 0.086 ppm of mercury and has an average mercury burden of 0.014 ppm.
5 Oysters
6 Numerous essential elements, including vitamin D, selenium, copper, iron, zinc, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamin B12, are abundant in oysters. They contain just 0.012 ppm of mercury on average, with 0.25 ppm being the highest reading.
7 Scallops
8.Another form of seafood that is nutrient-dense is scallops, which contains selenium, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamin B12.
In addition, they are an excellent source of protein, phosphate, and iodine. One of the species with the least mercury is the scallop, which has average mercury levels of 0.003 ppm and higher concentrations of 0.033 ppm.
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