BEWARE: These are 4 Fishes That are Not Safe to Eat

From a nutritional standpoint, seafood is a pretty safe bet: It’s packed with protein and good-for-you monounsaturated fats.

Unfortunately, though, some types of also contain mercury, which can affect a fetus or child’s neurological development.

Since the contaminant stays in your body for more than a year, it’s crucial that you avoid ingesting it even if there’s just a chance you could become a mom soon. All fish contain some mercury, but here are four types you should definitely steer clear of (along with five better alternatives).

• SHARK

Because this fish is at the top of the food chain, it consumes other fish to survive—and oftentimes, those other fish have already been contaminated with mercury, which means sharks’ levels veer into dangerously high territory.

Loading…

• SWORDFISH

This tropical fish is also a top predator that feeds on other fish tainted with mercury.

• KING MACKEREL

This voracious predator is on the do-not-eat list…unless you want to risk mercury poisoning.

• ALBACORE TUNA OR TUNA STEAKS

The rules regarding tuna are tricky: Albacore tuna racks up a medium level of mercury. So if you’re going to have it, the EPA advises limiting yourself to no more than one six-ounce serving per week. Same goes for tuna steak, which is also considered medium-level on the mercury scale.

FISH TO EAT

1. Salmon

There’s good reason why this majestic fish remains such a popular choice among parents and kids: it’s full of vitamins, lends itself to countless easy preparations, and has an undeniably rich, delicious flavor.

2. Rainbow Trout

Unlike certain types of farmed fish, freshwater rainbow trout is a great choice for dinner because it’s raised in an ecologically responsible way, is replete with B vitamins, and has a soft texture and full flavor that kids naturally like.

3. Tilapia

Tilapia may not have the star power of the other omega 3-rich swimmers on this list, but this freshwater fish has sparked the interest of seafood experts in recent years who’ve found that it’s well-suited for farming and doesn’t lead to lots of environmental problems.

4. Sardines

Sardines are free of mercury and PCBs, which means you can serve them frequently. More good news: the silvery, fatty fish are also among the best sources of brain-building omega-3s.

Source: Babble