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Fish and heavy metals to eat or not to eat

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Fish and heavy metals to eat or not to eat

Are they worth eating? Fish have a high nutritional value, but pollution makes them a source of heavy metals that pose a serious threat to human health. And if so, what kind of fish should you buy?

Table of Contents

1. Fish nutritional value

Omega-3 acids are essential in the human diet because: they play a role in the normal vision process; affect the proper functioning of the nervous system; ?? they act as an anti-inflammatory agent. They contribute to lowering triglycerides and increasing HDL lipoprotein (so-called good cholesterol); improve memory and cognitive abilities.

2. Fish and heavy metals

Heavy metals that are dissolved in water have the ability to penetrate living organisms, including fish. Most heavy metals accumulate in the wings and liver. Symonic, J. Leszczuk-Piankowska and P.J. The accumulation of heavy metal in different species of fish is individual and depends on age, size, fish feed and environmental pollution. The longer the fish lives, the more harmful substances accumulates as well. Human activity, including the removal of pollen and pollen, contributes to the contamination of aquatic organisms.

3. Heavy metals are characteristic

However, a large number of heavy metals, mainly mercury, cadmium and lead, do not have any beneficial function and exhibit toxic effects on animal and human health. They are often referred to as deaths that easily penetrate the food chain. Many of them, including zinc, iron, copper, manganese, nickel, selenium, play a very important biological role.

4. Heavy metals and human health

They also have a negative effect on the absorption of nutrients such as iron, magnesium, zinc, copper, and selenium (O. Kałuża 2019). Heavy metals can cause acute or chronic poisoning (acute and chronic cause, among others, cadmium and mercury, whereas chronic lead). Over time they can cause mutagenic changes and damage to the nervous system.

5. Kadm and human health

It is estimated that up to 90% of cadmium enters the human body along with food (A. Bykowski 2017). In humans, the largest amounts are found in the liver, kidneys, and bones. It is these organs and fetal tissues that are most easily absorbed into the food chain, as it is easily assimilated by the growing plants there.

6. Lead and human health

It can also migrate to water. It accumulates in the liver, kidneys, bones, and central nervous system. Chwalba, B. Machoń-Greek 2018; J.M. Koim-Puchowska, A. It interferes with the activity of many enzymes and proteins and the functioning of tissues, disrupting fertility in men (M. Rusincia 2021). In turn, chronic poisoning is manifested by bleaching of the skin and a bluish plaque on the gums (Z.

7. Mercury and human health

In natural conditions, it occurs in the form of organic and inorganic compounds, the former of which are more harmful to humans. Bomba, M. Drož-Alarcón et al., 2018). Methylortha penetrates very easily from the digestive system into the bloodstream, crosses the blood-brain barrier, and leads to damage to the genetic material, kidneys, brain, heart, lungs, and immune system. Methylorta can easily penetrate through the gastrointestinal barrier and accumulate in the brain, causing nerve damage in the central nervous system.

8. Is it worth eating fish?

Food Safety Authority (EFSA) regularly checks and assesses human exposure to heavy metals and foodstuffs consumed by the food industry. In view of the heavy metal content, the consumption of fish should be limited to at least 1881 piglets and small children. The maximum allowable concentrations and tolerated weekly intake of cadmium, lead and mercury (K. Most fish can be consumed in quantities exceeding 1 kg per week. Jaroset et al. 2020) Due to the heavy metal content of these fish, the food consumption of piglets should be restricted by women who are pregnant, breastfeeding and young children.

9. What kind of fish to buy

Januszko and J. Bykowski, on the other hand, showed a relatively low cumulation of cadmium in all samples of mint, pangi and tilapia than in tuna (E. Additionally, A. J. Migdal's study examined the heavy metal content of carp meat that came from different regions of Poland. A. Bykowsky checked the quality of the fish preserves of one producer. In all the samples examined, the highest levels were also indicated in the context of canned fish, whereas the heavier metal content in canned tuna was indicated.
Source

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