Pregnancy and mercury contamination

During pregnancy, being pregnant might have already put you into pressure to eat more nutrient-dense foods that you used to be as there is already a life inside your womb that you need to sustain. Keeping up with fruits and vegetables, protein-rich foods and foods rich in iron, calcium should be your priority when pregnant. But how do you know that you are eating the right foods to sustain the needed nutrition by the body? Eating fish is one of the most-looked into meals by expectant moms. It is rich in protein and low in saturated fat, factors that are essential for a good diet. However, there are some issues about eating fish during pregnancy and one is mercury contamination.

Metal contaminants can be present in low levels at the sea however, because of the environmental pollution, high levels of metal contaminants have already reached the sea affecting fishes and other creatures consumed by humans. One of the harmful metal contaminants is mercury that is harmful to pregnancy.

Mercury when ingested by human present a clear danger to its health especially during pregnancy. It can cause behavioral problems such as poor concentration, and emotional instabilities. When pregnant, it can affect the cognitive development of the baby as well as may slow the talking and walking progress.
Predator fishes are the type of fish that have the high probability of mercury exposure. Some fishes that belong to this category are king mackerel, marlin, swordfish and tilefish.

The best thing to do as a precautionary measure when pregnant or trying to be pregnant is to be aware what types of fish you need to avoid minimizing the risk of mercury exposure. Also there are some types of fish that should be eaten in moderation. Consulting your doctor can be a great help in recognizing these matters.

Mercury exposure presents a clear danger to pregnancy and to the health of the baby in the womb. With this information on hand, you should be able to handle prenatal care at its best!


Riza C. Belgira is health enthusiast and an advocate of strengthening women's health and well-being through informative health resources and articles. Visit her web site and explore informative and useful tips on 4d scans, pregnancy, dieting and weight loss at http://www.4d-ultrasoundscan.co.uk/.