Omega 3 Sources and Mercury

Fish is a food that is low in saturated fat, high in protein, contains many beneficial nutrients such as iodine, vitamin D and selenium, and is currently the primary dietary source for Omega 3 fatty acids (Seafood Choices: Balancing benefits and risks, Nesheim,M, Yaktine, A (Eds), The National Academy Press, Washington, DC 2007). On the down side, fish may be contaminated by environmental pollutants, such as methylmercury (Goyer, R, Aposhian, V, Arab, L, et al. Toxilogical effects of methylmercury, The National Academy Press, Washington, DC 2000). Chia seed has an oil content that ranges between 29 and 33 percent. This oil contains the highest percentage of alpha-linolenic omega-3 fatty acid known (62-64 percent) (Ayerza, 1995).  Fatty acids and their metabolites serve three basic functions related to human health:

1.They are a fundamental constituent of cellular membranes, giving them an elastic cover that protects each cell (Muggli and Clough, 1994)

2. They act as a highly efficient energy reserve that provides protection against external agents like cold weather (Nettleton, 1995)

3.They are the source of an importanat group of hormonal compounds called prostaglandins, thromboxanes, and leukotrienes, which are involved in many physiological processes associated with the central nervous system, hormonal function, regulation of blood pressure, cholesterol transport, immunological mechanisms, and inflammatory reactions (American Heart Association, 1988; Welch and Borlakoglu, 1992).

Because of the health risks associated with methylmercury, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have recommended that women of childbearing age, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers limit thier intake of fish and avoid all consumption of some types of fish (FDA, EPA Consumer Advisory 2004). 

Iskiate, also known as Chia Fresca is one of the best ways to consume chia seeds. WingFoot Iskiate is made with cold milled chia seeds. Milling the seeds does not increase the bioavailability of omega 3 however many people prefer the milled seed drink mix to the whole seeds because of the smoother texture. Eliminating the risk of mercury exposure while gaining the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids makes this chia seed based drink the safest way to consume this important nutrient. In addition, chia has none of the anti-nutritional and toxic factors contained in flax seed (Horrobin, 1988).

Methylmercury is a heavy metal with both natural and anthropogenic sources. There are three types of mercury in the environment: elemental, inorganic and organic. The primary source of non-occupational mercury exposure is consumption of fish and other seafood (EPA Mercury Report to Congress 1997). The mercury found in fish is nearly all the organic form as methylmercury. It is estimated that over 95% is absorbed into the bloodstream when consumed, and can penetrate every cell in the body. It crosses the blood-brain barrier and the placenta. It cannot be cooked out of fish, as it is strongly bound in tisues. Mercury is distributed throughout all body tissues, unlike polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which are concentrated in adipose tissue and organ meats. The half-life of mercury is about 70 days in the blood (IPCS Environmental Health Criteria 101: Methylmercury. WHO, Geneva 1990)

Adult exposure to mercury can cause localized damage to discrete areas of the brain, however, exposure in fetal life causes diffuse and widespread neurological damage (Castoldi, AF, Coccini, T, Ceccatelli, S, Manzo, L. Neurotoxicity and molecular effects of methylmercury 2001)

I love fish and I used to eat it almost every day. The research results I've just shared with you have made me decide to limit the amount of fish I eat. I am happy to have a healthy, plant food alternative source for essential fatty acids. Of course my personal favorite is WingFoot Iskiate. Cheers, Sheree