1. Know the Dangers of Mercury in Shellfish
The main risk of consuming shellfish involves overexposing your body to high levels of mercury. Both fish and shellfish contain traces of mercury. Some shellfish contain much higher levels and can pose a danger to a person's health. Too much mercury in the body can lead to problems with fetal development when the shellfish is consumed by an expecting mother. Many doctors warn pregnant women about limiting the amount of shellfish they eat over the course of their pregnancy.
2. Limit, Not Eliminate
You can have shellfish each week, but you should keep a close eye on the amount you eat in any given week. At most, you should have no more than 12 oz. of shellfish over the course of a week. On average, that estimate comes out to about two shellfish servings each week. To further reduce your risk and make healthy shellfish choices, you should pick shellfish with relatively low mercury levels, like shrimp. However, if you happen to eat more than the suggested amount within a week, don't fret. You can simply adjust the amount of shellfish you consume the following week. One week of too much shellfish will not likely cause you any health issues.
3. Check Local Shellfish Advisories
If the shellfish is caught locally, then you'll want to learn about any possible mercury dangers that lurk in area waters. Mercury collects in streams, lakes and ocean due to environmental pollution. In highly polluted areas, the levels of mercury in fish may come back very high. You should check local advisories to see if you're at risk for consuming too much mercury from locally caught shellfish. Even if you don't find any advisories against local shellfish consumption, you still may want to limit your shellfish consumption to once a week.
4. Food Poisoning Dangers From Shellfish
To make healthy shellfish choices, you need to know how the shellfish is cooked. The waters that shellfish live in often harbor bacteria such as Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Undercooked and raw shellfish carrying these bacteria can cause food poisoning. The person may develop diarrhea, nausea, stomach cramps and vomiting after the consumption of improperly cooked shellfish. Although some shellfish, like oysters, are often consumed raw, they still carry a food poisoning risk. If you have any type of health issue, you should avoid eating raw mussels, clams and oysters.
Member Comments