(HealthDay News) -- Fish, notably types high in omega-3 fatty acids like salmon and albacore tuna, are recommended as part of a healthy diet.
But those fish also tend to harbor small amounts of the element mercury, which may be harmful to young children and women who are pregnant or may become pregnant.
Here are guidelines from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on how much fish is safe to eat for children and pregnant women:
- Shark, swordfish, king mackerel and tilefish are particularly high in mercury, so avoid eating those fish at all.
- Limit your diet to two meals per week of other fish.
- Stick to shrimp, light tuna in a can (not albacore or white tuna), salmon, pollock or catfish, all of which are lower in mercury than other kinds of fish.
- Avoid eating local fresh catch unless information is available on the safety of local fish.
