Eating Fish During Pregnancy – Advice on What Fish to Avoid Eating Whilst Pregnant

You may have heard the old wives tale that eating fish can make you brainier. Well believe it or not there is some truth in it. Fish is really considered to be brain food and eating oily fish in particular can make your baby more intelligent.
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Oily fishes that include mackerel, sardines and even salmon contain what are called omega 3 fatty acids. These are essential for the proper development of your baby’s brain and central nervous system.
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But I’m afraid it’s not all good news. The same fish also contain dioxins and pollutants called PCBs which can be the cause of long term health problems if you eat too much of them. So it’s often a case of weighing up the benefits of eating fish against the risks. All things being weighed up, health professionals still recommend that you should eat at least one or two portions of fish per week during your pregnancy.
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However, there are certain types of fish that experts say you should not eat at all whilst pregnant as they are unsafe. These include game fish like swordfish, shark and marlin, because they can contain high levels of mercury. This can damage your baby’s nervous system.
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Tuna fish is one of those fish that has been found to contain mercury, but in smaller amounts compared to other fish. So if you must eat tuna fish whilst you’re pregnant then the key is to eat it in moderation. The guidelines for fresh tuna are the same as oily fish given above. But as tinned tuna contains less oil you can eat up to four tins a week.

By: Jane Lind