Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live At Daybreak

Breakfast with DAYBREAK: The Dish on Fish

Aired November 12, 2002 - 06:19   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, it's close to Thanksgiving; but we're not talking turkey this morning, we are talking fish. And there is some updated advice from the National Institutes of Health for eating fish and avoiding mercury.
Lisa Drayer from DietWatch.com is joining us from New York this morning.

All right, I want to know this, I eat a lot of fish. Should I be concerned about consuming too much?

LISA DRAYER, NUTRITIONIST: You know it is cause for some concern. The recommendation for women of childbearing age to limit fish consumption in order to reduce the risk of mercy toxicity, that recommendation has been around for a while. But this latest study from San Francisco, a physician who tested mercury levels in her office and found high levels among her patients, this latest study shows...

CALLAWAY: Wow!

DRAYER: ... that we might all need to be concerned with the amount and type of fish that we consume.

CALLAWAY: First let me ask you, how much fish can you eat? And does it matter how it's prepared? Does that cut down on how much mercury you consume?

DRAYER: Right. Actually preparation does not affect the mercury levels in fish. But here's the bottom line, there's no need to panic about consuming fish. It's actually a very nutritious source of protein and fish also contains heart-healthy omega three fatty acids. But it is smart to know which fish contain high amounts of mercury, that is shark, swordfish, king macrel and tilefish, also known as golden snapper, and also tuna steaks can also be high in mercury levels.

CALLAWAY: Tuna. Tuna, yes. Oh I love tuna.

DRAYER: Yes. These are the tuna steaks. So if you are a fish lover, if you're eating fish you know several times a week, then it's important not to overdo it on these particular species.

CALLAWAY: You say tuna steaks, but does that mean tuna right out of the can?

DRAYER: Actually that's an excellent point that you make. By the way, the fish that I just mentioned, any women who is pregnant or looking to become pregnant or a nursing mother or young child should completely avoid those particular fish.

CALLAWAY: All right.

DRAYER: However, canned tuna has become an issue because although the mercury levels are low, it's such a popular fish. We consume a lot of canned tuna as a country.

CALLAWAY: Yes, we do.

DRAYER: Right. So the mercury levels can add up. So actually some states are now issuing advisories on canned tuna and say that if you're pregnant, looking to become pregnant or a young child that you should limit your canned tuna consumption to about one to two six ounce cans per week depending on your body weight.

CALLAWAY: OK, Lisa, we're out of time, but quickly, what about sushi and shellfish?

DRAYER: Yes. Well definitely sushi. Tuna in raw form or any food in raw form should be avoided by pregnant women because pregnant women are at high risk for food-borne illness. So there's too much potential for bacterial contamination.

And shellfish are generally low on the mercury scale.

CALLAWAY: Yea!

DRAYER: Clams, lobster,...

CALLAWAY: Oysters.

DRAYER: ... enjoy -- exactly.

CALLAWAY: All right.

DRAYER: Shrimp and scallops, enjoy those. Just be careful. And we just need to be a little more aware of what we're putting in our mouths when it comes to fish.

CALLAWAY: All right, thank you, Lisa. Have a good day.

DRAYER: Thanks, you too.

CALLAWAY: That's Lisa Drayer with DietWatch.com. You should go to DietWatch.com if you want to know exactly how many cans of tuna you can eat. I love that stuff.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired November 12, 2002 - 06:19   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, it's close to Thanksgiving; but we're not talking turkey this morning, we are talking fish. And there is some updated advice from the National Institutes of Health for eating fish and avoiding mercury.
Lisa Drayer from DietWatch.com is joining us from New York this morning.

All right, I want to know this, I eat a lot of fish. Should I be concerned about consuming too much?

LISA DRAYER, NUTRITIONIST: You know it is cause for some concern. The recommendation for women of childbearing age to limit fish consumption in order to reduce the risk of mercy toxicity, that recommendation has been around for a while. But this latest study from San Francisco, a physician who tested mercury levels in her office and found high levels among her patients, this latest study shows...

CALLAWAY: Wow!

DRAYER: ... that we might all need to be concerned with the amount and type of fish that we consume.

CALLAWAY: First let me ask you, how much fish can you eat? And does it matter how it's prepared? Does that cut down on how much mercury you consume?

DRAYER: Right. Actually preparation does not affect the mercury levels in fish. But here's the bottom line, there's no need to panic about consuming fish. It's actually a very nutritious source of protein and fish also contains heart-healthy omega three fatty acids. But it is smart to know which fish contain high amounts of mercury, that is shark, swordfish, king macrel and tilefish, also known as golden snapper, and also tuna steaks can also be high in mercury levels.

CALLAWAY: Tuna. Tuna, yes. Oh I love tuna.

DRAYER: Yes. These are the tuna steaks. So if you are a fish lover, if you're eating fish you know several times a week, then it's important not to overdo it on these particular species.

CALLAWAY: You say tuna steaks, but does that mean tuna right out of the can?

DRAYER: Actually that's an excellent point that you make. By the way, the fish that I just mentioned, any women who is pregnant or looking to become pregnant or a nursing mother or young child should completely avoid those particular fish.

CALLAWAY: All right.

DRAYER: However, canned tuna has become an issue because although the mercury levels are low, it's such a popular fish. We consume a lot of canned tuna as a country.

CALLAWAY: Yes, we do.

DRAYER: Right. So the mercury levels can add up. So actually some states are now issuing advisories on canned tuna and say that if you're pregnant, looking to become pregnant or a young child that you should limit your canned tuna consumption to about one to two six ounce cans per week depending on your body weight.

CALLAWAY: OK, Lisa, we're out of time, but quickly, what about sushi and shellfish?

DRAYER: Yes. Well definitely sushi. Tuna in raw form or any food in raw form should be avoided by pregnant women because pregnant women are at high risk for food-borne illness. So there's too much potential for bacterial contamination.

And shellfish are generally low on the mercury scale.

CALLAWAY: Yea!

DRAYER: Clams, lobster,...

CALLAWAY: Oysters.

DRAYER: ... enjoy -- exactly.

CALLAWAY: All right.

DRAYER: Shrimp and scallops, enjoy those. Just be careful. And we just need to be a little more aware of what we're putting in our mouths when it comes to fish.

CALLAWAY: All right, thank you, Lisa. Have a good day.

DRAYER: Thanks, you too.

CALLAWAY: That's Lisa Drayer with DietWatch.com. You should go to DietWatch.com if you want to know exactly how many cans of tuna you can eat. I love that stuff.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com