How to Eat Fish Safely While Pregnant

As soon as you find out that you are pregnant you are presented with lists of activities that you shouldn't partake in or foods that you shouldn't eat because these activities and foods could be potentially detrimental to the fetus. One of the warnings is that eating certain kinds of fish and certain amounts of fish can cause potential harm to your unborn child due to the mercury the fish contains. Because mercury is such a health concern for pregnant women, many skip fish altogether just to be safe, but what they may not realize is the benefit that eating a healthy amount of the right kinds of fish can offer their child. Fish is a food that is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are great for the developing fetus's brain. So, how can you safely eat fish during pregnancy to benefit your baby's brain? Follow these steps which will allow you and your unborn child to enjoy the benefits of fish.

Instructions

    • 1

      Make sure that whatever fish you do consume during pregnancy is cooked completely.Consuming raw or undercooked meats, poultry, and seafood during pregnancy is not a good idea, so stick to the cooked varieties of sushi while you are pregnant.

    • 2

      Limit the amount of fish that you eat per week to around 12 ounces per week, with the exception of tuna, which should be limited to 6 ounces per week. If you do eat tuna, canned chunk light tuna is your best option because it contains less mercury than canned white tuna.

    • 3

      Stay away from larger ocean fish which consume lots of smaller ocean fish.Think of it like this: If little fish all contain a certain amount of mercury, and a bigger fish eats a lot of little fish, then there is going to be a lot of mercury in the bigger fish. Experts recommend that you avoid tilefish, shark, king mackerel, swordfish, and tuna steaks.

    • 4

      Avoid tropical fish that could contain toxins.If you enjoy the rush of gambling with a serving of blowfish, you should wait to get your next adrenaline rush until after you deliver.

    • 5

      Avoid fish caught in waters that are contaminated with sewage and/or chemical waste.

    • 6

      Feel free to enjoy salmon, pollack, sole, flounder, anchovies, haddock, tilapia, halibut, ocean perch, sardines, cod, and trout.This list is a great reference to have if you are ever in doubt and craving some fish.

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