WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind., July 23 (UPI) -- U.S. women with questions about which fish are healthiest to eat can now consult a wallet-sized card created by a Purdue University food expert.
"There is a two-prong message that can be confusing when it comes to eating fish," said Professor Charles Santerre. "Fish has valuable health benefits, such as omega-3 fatty acids that benefit brain development in babies and cardiovascular health in adults. However, eating too much of certain fish can lead to higher mercury exposure, which can harm your baby.
"This card is about getting the message out more efficiently that women should eat fish but also that not all fish are the same," he said.
The "Fish for Your Health" cards -- available from the Indiana State Department of Health -- are designed to provide information for women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or who may become pregnant, as well as for young children.
The card, among other things, lists salmon, farm-raised rainbow trout, herring, mackerel, sardines and whitefish as the best fish choices, as well as fish that childbearing-aged women should never eat because of high mercury levels, such as swordfish, shark, king mackerel and grouper.
