May 16, 2003 – Women who limit their fish intake during pregnancy to protect the fetus from mercury exposure are depriving themselves for no reason.
This surprising revelation, which goes against what has been believed until now, can be found in the current edition of the medical journal The Lancet.
American researchers studied women living in the Seychelles Islands and found that, despite consuming 12 meals of fish per week (compared to just one in the United States), their offspring did not appear to suffer from the negative effects usually associated with it. mercury, such as brain damage, nervous system disorders or fertility problems.
Health Canada advises pregnant women (or thinking of becoming pregnant) and young children to limit their consumption of certain fish containing high levels of mercury to one meal per month, such as shark, swordfish, tuna and marlin. , lest this substance be transmitted to the fetus and harm its development.
Recently, Canadian women who responded to a survey said they would pay more attention to their diet if the messages about healthy or unsafe foods were not so contradictory (see the article from PasseportSanté.net, dated March 21 2003).
Jean-Benoit Legault – PasseportSanté.net
According to BBC News, May 16, 2003.