In the 'Symptoms - Food - Intake' section of our in-depth questionnaire we ask the following question about level of fish consumption:
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How many servings of fish do you consume on average per month?
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Your answer |
...indicates |
...and suggests |
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"None / rarely / don't know" |
Not eating cold water fish |
A risk factor |
| 2. |
"One" |
Low cold water fish consumption |
A risk factor |
| 3. |
"Two" |
Moderate cold water fish consumption |
A risk factor |
| 4. |
"Three to four" |
Moderate cold water fish consumption |
A risk factor |
| 5. |
"Five or more" |
High cold water fish consumption |
A risk factor |
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Your answer will affect the likelihoods of the conditions below.
Any answers in green reduce the likelihood of the condition.
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| Answers |
Condition |
Comment |
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EFA (Essential Fatty Acid) Type 3 Requirement |
More salmon for consumption are now raised in captivity than caught in the wild. These fish are fed corn meal, soy and canola oil. When the fish are fed these foods, the concentration of their fats turns far away from the ideal beneficial 3:1 omega-6 to omega-3 ratio and turns closer to the 20:1 found in commercially-raised beef. This means that salmon raised in salt water pens contain substantially less omega-3 oil than wild salmon, and can no longer be considered a good source of omega-3 essential fatty acids unless clearly identified as 'wild caught'. Also, pigments are added to the artificially-raised salmon to ensure a pink color. [Seattle Times, September 02, 2001] |
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Mercury Toxicity (Amalgam Illness) |
Although mercury occurs naturally in the environment, of bigger concern is the mercury that is released into the air through industrial pollution. When mercury falls from the air into water, it is converted into "methylmercury" by bacteria in the water. Methylmercury accumulates in streams and oceans where it is absorbed by fish as they feed in these waters. Mercury levels are highest in older, larger predatory fish. Larger predatory fish accumulate high levels of mercury by eating smaller fish (that contain mercury) who have eaten even smaller fish (that contain mercury).
Nearly all fish and shellfish contain trace amounts, but some fish contain much more, depending on how big they are, how long they live, what they eat, and where they were caught. According to an FDA survey, the fish with the highest average levels of mercury are, in order:
(Highest levels of mercury - at least 1 part per million): tilefish (golden bass or golden snapper), shark, swordfish, king mackerel; ("Mid-levels" of mercury - around 1/2 part per million): grouper, orange roughy, marlin, Spanish mackerel, tuna. |
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GLOSSARY
Bacteria (Bacterial, Bacterium)
Microscopic germs. Some bacteria are "harmful" and can cause disease, while other "friendly" bacteria protect the body from harmful invading organisms.
Essential Fatty Acid (EFA, EFAs, Essential Fatty Acids)
A substance that the human body cannot manufacture and therefore must be supplied in the diet.
FDA
The (American) Food and Drug Administration. It is the official government agency that is responsible for ensuring that what we put into our bodies - particularly food and drugs - is safe and effective.
Last updated: May 10, 2007
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