Table of contents:
- List of foods containing mercury that you need to be aware of
- 1. Fish
- 2. High fructose corn syrup
- 3. Rice
Mercury is a type of heavy metal that we can find in rocks, ore, soil, to water and air as a waste product from factory and household waste. Mercury or also known as mercury (Hg) has been shown to be harmful to health. You can be exposed to mercury if you eat foods that contain mercury.
Long-term exposure to low doses of mercury that is absorbed through the digestive tract can cause immune system disorders and nerve damage. Mercury is also fat soluble so it easily enters through the blood brain barrier and then accumulates in the brain, interfering with its function. Mercury that enters the body through blood vessels can cause pulmonary embolism. In pregnant women, mercury can cross the placenta and adversely affect the fetus.
List of foods containing mercury that you need to be aware of
1. Fish
Almost all fish contain mercury because this compound pollutes the water. In water, mercury turns into a substance called methylmercury which binds to proteins in fish muscles.
Large fish tend to be higher in mercury because they eat smaller fish which also consume mercury. Likewise with older fish, they contain more metals because they are exposed to it longer.
Some fish that are high in mercury include shark, swordfish, marlin, king mackerel, tilefish, tuna. Make sure to choose a variety of fish that are lower in mercury, such as salmon, tilapia, shrimp, cod, catfish, and catfish.
Generally, fish is safe to consume as much as 12 ounces divided into two to three servings a week to avoid the risk of mercury poisoning. In addition, balance it with the intake of foods high in omega-3 fatty acids.
2. High fructose corn syrup
High-fructose or corn syruphigh-fructose corn syrup(HFCS) is an artificial sweetener commonly used in packaged foods or soft drinks. In addition to increasing your risk of diabetes and obesity, high-fructose corn syrup is also a high-mercury food ingredient.
Two separate studies in 2009 both found that food products high in fructose corn syrup also contain mercury. The two studies were unsuccessful in finding out what kind of mercury it contained, but suspect methylmercury is the most. Methylmercury is known to be the most toxic type of mercury of mercury because it is better absorbed by the body than other forms of mercury.
3. Rice
Rice is a food source containing mercury. Not because it is intentionally added to rice during the production or packaging process, but because rice fields are generally located in areas close to industries that produce mercury waste.
Mercury is also present in water, air and soil around rice fields. Rice absorbs mercury more easily than other agricultural products because it is grown in waterlogged land conditions. In many areas, agricultural irrigation water can be contaminated with mercury. This makes the mercury content in the soil more concentrated, so that it is more easily absorbed into the grain.
In addition, bacteria living in rice fields can convert mercury into methylmercury, a more dangerous type of mercury.
x
