Americans can decrease their risk for heart disease by substituting seafood for other animal proteins, according to the National Academies of Science (NAS), Institute of Medicine. NOAA Fisheries, with support from the Food and Drug Administration, sponsored this independent study on Seafood Choices: Balancing Benefits and Risks. The report concludes that seafood is rich in nutrients, low in saturated fats, and should be incorporated into the American diet more frequently to prevent early death from heart disease – the primary cause of death in the United States.
As the study points out, seafood is safer today than in previous decades. Authors of the report emphasize that many environmental pollutants have been declining, including persistent organic compounds such as PCBs, pesticides and other chemicals.
In spite of some concern about environmental contaminants, the study concludes that, on balance, “seafood is a nutrient-rich food that makes a positive contribution to a healthful diet.”
The study affirms federal guidance tailored for women who are pregnant, nursing or may become pregnant, and children under age 12. These segments of the population can safely consume 12 ounces of fish per week, including six ounces of white canned tuna, but should avoid large predatory fish such as shark, swordfish, tilefish and king mackerel. Pregnant women are encouraged to incorporate a variety of seafood into their diet because of the benefits for fetal brain development.
For more information about this study, read the NOAA press release, or visit NOAA’s Seafood and Health webpage: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/seafood.htm.
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