New Mums and Pregnant Women Must Avoid Eating Too Much Seafood: FDA

Eating too much fish and seafood is not advisable during pregnancy, finds a research.

Oily fish and sea food are ideal for brain health. The nutritive elements in sea food especially omgea-3 fatty acids help shield against diseases like Alzheimer's and dementia caused by diminution of brain structure and volume in old age. But, the new guidelines by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency advise expectant mothers to limit their sea food intake to two of three servings in a week, reports the NY Daily News.

The health experts found mild concentrations of mercury in canned fish and commercially sold seafood products in the market. Excessive consumption of mercury-based food negatively impacts the nervous system and leads to sensory impairment. However, the reports do not recommend pregnant women and nursing mothers to avoid eating fish.

Eating shell fish and other sea food with low levels of mercury like salmon, shrimp and tilapia contain protein and low saturated fat that provide complete nourishment. Raw and uncooked marine delicacies like swordfish, shark and king mackerel are loaded with methylmercury. Tuna alone accounts for 40 percent of mercury an average American consumes from food, found the researchers.

The agencies thus suggest the overall seafood consumption must not exceed beyond eight to 12 ounces in a week for breastfeeding and pregnant women. The health officials have also drafted a statement on minimum amount fish young children must eat on daily basis and its benefits.

"Mercury can damage the brain and it can damage the nervous system, especially when that exposure occurs in the womb. To be safe, Consumer Reports recommends that pregnant women not eat any tuna at all," said Michael Crupain, from the consumer reports, reports the NBC News.

"Children and anyone who eats a lot of fish should really limit the amount of tuna they eat," he adds.