What types of fish should pregnant women avoid?
The types of fish known to have high levels of mercury are shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish. But it’s really important to pay attention to the mercury levels in fish in your local area. Some lakes and rivers are contaminated with higher than normal levels of mercury. Often you might see signs posted in local fishing areas (like on a bulletin board at the start of a hiking trail, for example) warning not to eat fish, or to only consume it in small amounts. Likewise, you may be able to eat more of the types of fish in your area that are low in mercury. You can check with your local health department for recommendations on the mercury levels in fish local to you. What about sushi? Do pregnant women really have to give it up? Surely women in Japan don’t, right? First, the FDA advises that pregnant women NOT eat raw fish because of potentially harmful bacteria and parasites, although some people claim that the type of fish, whether it’s frozen first, and how it’s prepared, etc.
