Mercury Is Likely In The Fish You're Eating

The US Department of the Interior tested fish in 291 streams across the country and found mercury in every fish tested. Of the fish tested, 25% had levels considered toxic by the US EPA.

"Mercury, a naturally occurring but toxic metal, gets into the air and the oceans primarily though burning coal. Eventually, it can end up on your plate in the form of mercury-contaminated seafood. Pregnant women are the most at risk from the toxic effects of mercury, since the metal is known to concentrate in the fetal brain and can interfere with brain development.

Mercury is also known to bind directly to one particular hormone that regulates women’s menstrual cycle and ovulation, interfering with normal signaling pathways. In other words, hormones don’t work so well when they’ve got mercury stuck to them! The metal may also play a role in diabetes, since mercury has been shown to damage cells in the pancreas that produce insulin, which is critical for the body’s ability to metabolize sugar." (http://www.ewg.org/research/dirty-dozen-list-endocrine-disruptors)

Fish flesh also stores many other toxins including PCBs (which can cause liver damage, nervous system disorders, and fetal damage), dioxins (linked to cancer) and radioactive substances. (http://meatthefacts.org/download/fish_for_health_get_the_facts.pdf)

Growing your own fish and plants aquaponically is a great way to ensure that you and your family are consuming clean food.

Image Source; http://www.momscleanairforce.org/resources/how-mercury-poisoning-works/