Top Seafood Picks

By Mila McManus, MD

There’s trouble with seafood. Our oceans are not as pristine as they used to be. Some of the largest contributors to ocean pollution include:

Runoff when heavy rainstorms draw road oils and pollutants from the ground into rivers and oceans.
Manufacturing plants in some areas of the world release toxic waste into the water, including mercury.
Oil spills from ships.
Plastic bags, cups, bottles, and other items thrown out and carried by the wind which fail to decompose.

Another issue is how the seafood is harvested. Because of demand, many species are over-fished. Because of cost, many are harvested in destructive ways which end up harming the ocean ecosystem and threatening fish populations.

With all this in mind, here is a list of seafood with the lowest mercury content, highest Omega 3 content, and least threatened:

Shrimp
Oysters
Mussels
Sardines
Salmon from New Zealand, California, Oregon, Washington, and Alaska
Freshwater Trout
Pollock
Atlantic Mackerel
Anchovies
Herring
Shad
Butterfish
Crab

There are other great options low in mercury and sustainably harvested, though not as recognized for their Omega 3 content including:

Scallops
Catfish
Clams
Crayfish
Rockfish from Alaska, California, Oregon, and Washington
Squid from California
Tilapia from Canada, Ecuador, Peru, and US
Skipjack Tuna from Pacific waters

If you don’t see your favorite on the list, then it is very high in mercury, and/or unsustainably caught, and/or the species population is threatened.

Eat Well, Be Well.

References:

https://www.texasdisposal.com/blog/ocean-pollution-causes-effects-and-prevention/

SeafoodWatch.org, Consumer Guide to Sustainable Seafood

Center For Science in the Public Interest, Seafood Recommendation Guide for pregnant, breast feeding and young children with lower mercury and increased Omega 3’s. www.cspinet.org

What is a Biological Dentist?

My View: William P. Glaros, DDS

A Biological Dentist is a licensed dentist who uses the greatest elements and practices of conventional dentistry, who also has a great appreciation and gives consideration to the relationship of teeth and oral health to the entire body.

Some of the elements and practices of conventional dentistry used include many wonderful and effective dental materials. A difference would be that in a Biological practice, dental materials are tested for each biological patient to determine which material is suitably compatible for that patient. We practice with minimal use of any metal products, with the interest in minimizing galvanic (def: involving electric currents produced by chemical action) reactions due to interacting, dissimilar metals.

Reportedly, 50% of the dentists in this country do not place mercury fillings. We call that “mercury-free”, a good start. Biological Dentists do not place mercury fillings out of a concern that the filling is a continuous source of mercury vapor at levels that can exceed those considered hazardous in non-dental environments.

We are interested and active in protecting our patients, our planet, and our dental team. This is called “mercury–safe”. A practice that is concerned with mercury from mercury fillings has mercury trapping systems in the office to prevent mercury fillings being dumped into our public water supply during its removal from the teeth. During the removal of these same filling types, Biological Dentists protect their patients with drapes to their knees, protective surgical caps, healthy alternative air to breath during removal, modified removal techniques to minimize exposure, and multiple air filters and purifiers in each treatment room. The dental team seeks protection by wearing protective Haz-mat-type masks, eye protection, and non-latex gloves that are replaced immediately after mercury-filling removal and after hands have been washed with cold water.

Beyond the “mercury-free” and “mercury-safe” practices, Biological Dentists believe that there are relationships in the body that make sense, according to principals of acupuncture. This is one of the considerations that leads us to a concern about retaining dead teeth in the mouth, also known as root canal treated teeth. Combining this concern with the scientific studies showing anaerobic and other toxic bacteria throughout the body with the source being the dead teeth, leads a Biological Dentist to question the health-based considerations of keeping and/or performing root canal treatments on teeth.

Though this communication is not meant to be exhaustive or instructive, a critical element not yet addressed is the importance of detox and nutritional support for each patient. Best care practice warrants every patient to be working with a health care provider with whom they share beliefs and who is appropriately adept at this service.