New U.S. Dietary Guidelines Decidedly ‘Fishy’
New U.S. Dietary Guidelines Decidedly ‘Fishy’
While the new 2010 U.S. Dietary Guidelines prod Americans – especially pregnant or breastfeeding moms – to eat more fish, many may be wondering exactly why seafood is so vital for a healthy diet.
To learn more about the powerful nutrients found in fish, we spoke with URMC neurologist Dr. Gary Myers.
For more than two decades, Dr. Myers and a team of URMC researchers have been conducting research in Seychelles, a tiny island nation in the Indian Ocean whose residents consume about 10 times as much fish as the average American.
Fish consumption, Myers explains in the video below, has been fraught with concerns related to whether or not the small amounts of mercury in seafood is harmful to people. By studying the Seychelles population, however, the team is witnessing firsthand that the good-for-you fatty acids found in fish (which are critical for building babies’ brains) seem to outweigh any potential ill effects related to mercury.
To make sense of the new dietary guidelines – and the science supporting them – just listen to Dr. Myer’s insights below.
…
…
Dr. Myers is a professor of Neurology, Environmental Medicine and Pediatrics at the University of Rochester Medical Center.
###
* The above story is adapted from materials provided by University of Rochester Medical Center
______________________________________________________________________
