Mila Chia Wellness

Facts about Mercury in fish and shellfish

I have received several requests for information about the mercury content of seafood. I am sharing here the report of one of the more recognized authorities, the US FDA.

Fish and shellfish are an important part of a healthy diet. Fish and shellfish contain high-quality protein and other essential nutrients, are low in saturated fat, and contain omega-3 fatty acids. A well-balanced diet that includes a variety of fish and shellfish can contribute to heart health and children’s proper growth and development. So, women and young children in particular should include fish or shellfish in their diets due to the many nutritional benefits.

However, nearly all fish and shellfish contain traces of mercury. For most people, the risk from mercury by eating fish and shellfish is not a health concern. Yet, some fish and shellfish contain higher levels of mercury that may harm an unborn baby or young child’s developing nervous system. The risks from mercury in fish and shellfish depend on the amount of fish and shellfish eaten and the levels of mercury in the fish and shellfish. Therefore, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are advising women who may become pregnant, pregnant women, nursing mothers, and young children to avoid some types of fish and eat fish and shellfish that are lower in mercury.

Read the rest of this report from the US FDA site:

http://www.fda.gov/Food/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/ucm110591.htm

Of course, there are safer non-marine alternatives to obtain the valuable Omega-3, Omega-6, and Omega-9 (and in optimum ratio) — from Mila chia seeds, the miracle seed.

Almost 20 years of research by its rediscoverer Dr. Wayne Coates have proven that, on a gram per gram comparison, Mila chia seeds contain 8 times more Omega-3 than Atlantic salmon, without the fish taste nor the mercury content.

Learn more about the chia seed for this site and from the Lifemax Mila official website.

1 Comment October 27, 2009

Trans Fat at-a-glance

Trans fat is a specific type of fat that is formed when liquid oils are turned into solid fats, such as shortening or stick margarine. During this process — called hydrogenation — hydrogen is added to vegetable oil to increase the shelf life and flavor stability of foods. The result of the process is trans fat.

• Trans fat can be found in many of the same foods as saturated fat, such as vegetable shortenings, some margarines, crackers, candies, cookies, snack foods, fried foods, baked goods, and other processed foods made with partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
• Also known as trans fatty acids, trans fat can be found naturally in some foods — such as animal-based foods like milk, milk products, and meat.

As a consumer, the most important thing to know about trans fat is that it behaves like saturated fat in the body by raising low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or “bad”) cholesterol — which can increase your risk of coronary heart disease.

Read on to learn more about trans fat — and how you can make wise nutritional choices in order to limit the trans fat, as well as saturated fat and cholesterol, in your diet.

Read the rest of this article at U.S. FDA site

http://www.fda.gov/Food/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/ucm079609.htm

Leave a Comment October 9, 2009