Experts: "Eat Seafood 4 to 7 Times a Week" 3/27/06

A panel of experts convened by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) has confirmed the health benefits of seafood. In fact, a recommendation has emerged to eat seafood not just the usually suggested two to three times a week but instead four to seven times a week.

“The best science coming out over the last two years has overwhelmingly been in favour of the benefits of seafood consumption,” said panel chair Professor Michael T. Morrissey, from Oregon State University’s Department of Food Science & Technology.

“The evidence still suggest that seafood plays a role in reducing coronary heart disease – and new studies suggest that it may reduce the onset of Alzheimer’s as well as other mental illnesses,” Dr Morrissey said.

In a statement he said US federal government guidelines for pregnant women and young children on mercury should be followed. “But young children and pregnant women should still eat 12 oz a week of a variety of fish to be sure to get the important nutrients – especially omega-3 fatty acids,” Dr Morrissey said. “For the rest of us, I would recommend eating fish four to seven times a week.”