Why do the benefits of eating fish at least twice a week outweigh the risks of exposure to mercury or other contaminants?

Published in the November 2005 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, a study from the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis shows that the benefits of consuming fish far outweigh the risk calculable from minimal exposure to mercury.

The study’s risk and benefit analysis found that consumers who eliminate fish from their diet risk a higher incidence of stroke and heart disease.  In addition, the babies of expectant moms who stop consuming fish lose the benefits omega-3s have on brain and nervous system development. Instead, researchers suggested consumers should follow government advice to eat fish weekly, choosing from a variety of fish low in mercury so they can enjoy the health benefits associated with omega-3 fatty acids without concern about mercury exposure.