Trudy Scott, Food Mood Expert, is the host the Anxiety Summit, and author of The Antianxiety Food Solution and she interviews Randy Hartnell, fisherman, owner of Vital Choice. Our topic: “What you need to know about seafood—the ultimate brain and mood food”
- Purity and contaminants such as mercury and radiation (Fukushima)
- Research showing the health benefits: anxiety, depression
- What if you are mercury-toxic and sensitive
- Farmed vs wild salmon (and other species)
- What about that fish-y smell
- The health benefits of fish roe
- Omega-3s and fish as ‘Brain Food”
- Omega3-6 balance and testing fatty acid levels
Here you have Randy talking about why fish is the ultimate brain and mood food
Here is one of the Ralston selenium studies: Dietary selenium’s protective effects against methylmercury toxicity.
This is the 2013 PLoS One study we discussed: Dietary patterns, n-3 fatty acids intake from seafood and high levels of anxiety symptoms during pregnancy: findings from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children
The present study provides evidence of a relationship between dietary patterns, fish intake or n-3 PUFA intake from seafood and symptoms of anxiety in pregnancy, and suggests that dietary interventions could be used to reduce high anxiety symptoms during pregnancy.
This 2013 paper in the British Journal of Nutrition called Dietary intake of fish and PUFA, and clinical depressive and anxiety disorders in women states
These are the first observational data to indicate a role for DHA in anxiety disorders
In this 2014 animal study, Fish oil improves anxiety-like, depressive-like and cognitive behaviors in olfactory bulbectomised rats study
fish oil supplementation during critical periods of brain development attenuated anxiety-like and depressive-like behaviors and cognitive dysfunction”
Here is some of our discussion on weighing the concerns of mercury toxicity versus the health benefits (since it’s a topic that comes up a lot). This is what Randy shared:
Fish has a whole sort of micronutrient spectrum. They’re swimming around out in this rich soup of minerals – vitamins, minerals, micronutrients – and you know, life evolved in the sea. And life has evolved amid background mercury levels forever, right? Because as much as half of it, if not more, comes from underwater volcanic activity and erosion of the land into the ocean. And mercury’s a naturally occurring element. Of course, the problem with a lot of it now is that it comes from fossil fuel burning.
But it’s always been there, and so life has evolved a capacity to deal with a certain amount of it. And you know, I always acknowledge that people are different, and some people process things differently than other people. But really, when you think about it, common sense tells you that life evolved in the sea. Mercury’s always been there, and I know there are studies of Alaskan natives from thousands of years ago, that they’ve recovered hair samples from these Alaskan natives, and there’s mercury in their hair. So it’s not like it’s something new that people are dealing with.
The message I hope people will take away is you’ve got to assess the risk versus the benefit. And virtually every study, or every major study, comes down on the side that benefits vastly outweigh the risks.
Here you have Randy sharing about the quality of fish they source and offer
– I love that he talks about the “golden rule”
During the interviews on mercury (part 1) with Kris Homme, and part 2, she shares her concerns saying that she believes that if you have major mercury exposure because of amalgams, then you might want to reduce fish consumption and especially avoid the bigger fish. She certainly does.
Vital Choice is very kindly offering us some nice discounts on their products:
15% discount on VitalChoice (wild fish) purchases (use MOODFOOD at checkout – expires 12/31/14)
50% discount on fatty acid testing (use MOODFOODTESTKIT at checkout – expires 12/31/14)
The above discounts have expired but you can check out Vital Choice products here.
I hope you’ll join us on the Anxiety Summit season 2. It runs from Nov 3-16, 2014 and you’ll learn about this and many other nutritional and natural solutions for anxiety, panic attacks, OCD and social anxiety. This is one of many great topics we’ll be sharing.
Hi Trudy . I am blown away by this info on fish. I love fish but have reduced my intake espescially due to pregnancies and breastfeeding afraid of mercury.. Trudy I’m South African and I wonder if we can get vital choice here? Do you know of local brands which are good? Also I learnt something interesting from the natural news health ranger, Mike Adams: chlorella, strawberries and peanut butter are very good at removing mecury by binding to it and removing it from the body. Mike suggested that these foods can be taken with mercury containing foods. Thank you Trudy.
Hi Fathima
Great! I’ll check to see if you can Vital Choice in South Africa. I can say that sardines are an excellent choice in South Africa! very affordable – you just have to read the label of the brand that include sauces.
I am not aware of strawberries and peanut butter for being very good at removing mecury.
Trudy
I know this reply is probably way too late. In reading about the Andy Cutler protocol for chelating mercury, be very careful with cilantro. Apparently it’s a very good chelator of mercury, so it also has the danger of pushing mercury into the brain. There is a detox called Purebody by Touchstone Essentials. First of all, I am not a Touchstone affiliate. I do not get paid or given any discounts or receive any compensation or incentives of any kind for posting this, except for the personal satisfaction of telling people about this miraculous supplement. Purebody is the missing link to chelation. Chelation carries with it the danger of pushing mercury into the brain because resettling occurs after each dose. With Purebody, I don’t believe there is any danger of resettling. Once the clinoptilolite zeolite molecules grab hold of mercury (and many other heavy metals and toxins), it’s stuck to it like glue. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that Purebody works and does exactly what it says it does because within in a week it totally turned my health around and changed my life in a fantastic way and I have never been the same since then (roughly 4 years ago). Visit touchstone’s website and put my name into their search bar. They thought that my testimonial was so good that they made a blog out of it. If you’re reading this and you’re tired of feeling tired and run down all the time, you need Purebody.
Also, be aware that feeling worse for the first few days is completely normal. This is called a herxheimer reaction. It happens when toxins are released in a larger quantity than what your body’s waste removal system can get rid of quickly, so until your body gets rid of it all, it will float around in the blood stream and cause you to not be feeling so well. Trust me when I say that the results are so worth the initial herxheimer.
is there any where in perth australia that I can buy alaskan salmon as the shipping per tin is very expensive, so hoping that someone is bringing it in, in bulk
warmest regards
Christine
Hi Christine
I don’t don’t and will check with Vital Choice
Trudy
For Fathima, we do not export vital choice products to South Africa at this time, however I believe there may be other Alaskan seafood companies that do. Check your supermarkets for canned Alaska salmon which will have comparable nutritional value. Other than that, I agree with Trudy at sardines are always safe and nutritious source of vital nutrients.
Christine, we do export canned salmon and sardines to Australia that you may access through our partners website at vitalchoice.com.au (We have no ownership in this company, but they have been a good customer for many years.). I hope this helps.
How do omega-3 fatty acids contribute to the function and development of your brain?
Jorgia
Here is one article with some good information https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080709161922.htm