Staying Healthy
Is it safe to eat fish?
Ask the doctor
Q. You recommend eating fish twice a week. However, I've read that fish contain toxins and microplastics. Is it really safe to eat fish?
A. Most options in life contain both benefits and risks. Foods are no exception. Eating fish has potential benefits (largely from the omega-3 fats they contain) and risks (from the toxins). Do the benefits exceed the risks? That question has been addressed by research — much of it by colleagues here at Harvard. The answers are different for different people, and for different types of fish.
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