Beware of Heart Attack, Because Eating Contaminated Fish Mercury

The fish known as a source of protein and foods containing omega-3 fatty acids are much higher recommended, both for children and adults. However, a study found a surprising fact that mercury and omega-3 fatty acids found in fish seem to show opposite effects on cardiovascular health.

In an analysis of more than 1,600 men from Sweden and Finland, researchers found that participants with high levels of mercury in their bodies at high risk of heart attacks, whereas participants whose levels of omega-3 fatty acids is high at lower risk.

Once the hair sample and measured the participants' blood levels of mercury and omega 3 it was found that the average mercury levels Swede reached 0.57 micrograms per gram of hair. But it turns out the number is two times higher than average levels of mercury Finnish men.

Likewise with omega-3 fatty acid content of her, the Swedish men were found to have levels of omega 3 higher than Finnish men in this study.

Whereas men have at least 3 micrograms of mercury per gram of hair was more at risk of heart attack compared with men whose bodies contain 1 microgram of mercury per gram of hair. This risk could actually be obtained if the man in question is known to have omega-3 fatty acid levels were low.

In contrast to the men who have more omega-3, it takes more blood mercury levels to see an increased risk of heart attack in his body. This indicates that the two compounds could be a perverse effect on the heart.

With the opposite effect on the content of the compound in the fish, the researcher also said that there are a number of ways to get fish oil naturally without mercury affected.

"Consumption of fish is recommended two to three times per week with the composition of a portion of non-predatory fish were fat (like salmon) and predatory fish once a week," said researcher Maria Wennberg from Umea University, Sweden as reported of HealthNews.

The problem, predatory fish such as shark, swordfish, king mackerel and king fish tilefish topped marine food chain so that the concentration of mercury that comes from the sea is quite high.

Whereas heavy metal compounds is known to damage the nervous system, especially in fetuses and children. Even the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has warned women of childbearing age not to eat fish predators.

The study has been published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.