If fish is added to a vegetarian-style diet, it will cause a significant rise in cholesterol levels.

Can worsen blood sugar levels in diabetics.

• A University of California study found that these so-called Type II diabetics experienced a nearly 20 percent rise in their fasting blood sugar levels after taking fish oil for a mere four weeks.¹

Large amounts can dangerously prolong the blood clotting time.

• Eskimos, although they have less heart disease, have more hemorrhagic (bleeding) strokes than Americans do.² It appears that their fish-rich diet causes an impairment of platelet function that causes them to bleed more easily.

Fish oil is expensive.

• Researchers used 15 capsules of fish oil daily for six months in order to decrease re-accumulation of atherosclerosis following angioplasty.³ At a retail price of about $9.00 for 100 capsules, this comes to about $245 for six month therapy. For the entire year that would be $490.

Large amounts cause vitamin overloading or vitamin deficiency.

• Large amounts of fish oil used as a supplement may upset your vitamin balance.⁴ Dr. Jack Yetiv points out that high doses of fish oil may cause very high levels of Vitamins A and D -- so high that they could be toxic. That is because they are both fat-soluble and are stored in our body fat. Although both vitamins are necessary for life and health in appropriate amounts, excesses amounts can cause poisoning--and in some cases--death. On the other hand, a diet rich in fish oil can cause Vitamin E deficiency.⁵

Can lead to an increase in body weight.

• The large amounts of fish oil that have been used in many studies can lead to a significant increase in body weight. These preparations are extremely high in fat and calories.⁶ It is estimated that a person could gain up to 24 pounds in a year if he took as much fish oil each day as some studies were using.⁷

Sea food is a large reservoir for infectious diseases.

• There are about 113,000 reported cases of food poisoning from fish each year in the U.S. only.⁸

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Toxins acquired from contaminated waters concentrate in the fatty tissues of fish.

In Should You Eat Fish Caught in the Waters Around New York City?, a brochure prepared by The Office of New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, in cooperation with The Children for Children's Health and the Environment Mount Sinai School of Medicine, strong warnings are given against the consumption of fish caught in the New York City area.

Fish Consumption Advisories:

• Infants, children under fifteen and women of childbearing age should not eat any fish from the Hudson River (including the Upper Bay of New York Harbor, Arthur Kill and Kill Van Kull), East River and Harlem River.

• They should not eat any striped bass from the Lower Bay of NY Harbor.

• Women beyond childbearing age and men should not eat any American Eels caught in the East River & Harlem River.

Concerns about fish caught around NYC:

• Those who have eaten from these water have a higher level of PCBs, than people who have eaten from others areas.

• Cadmium may be present in excessive amounts in crabs. Cadmium, like PCBs, also build up in the body. It damages the kidneys, bones and blood.

• Mercury and Dioxin may also be found in the fish.

• Skinning, trimming off fat and cooking your fish will not remove the contaminants.

• The contaminants are stored in the fats of the fish, which is basically the make up of the fish. However, broiling and grilling will cause some of the fats to drip away as the fish is prepared.

Interesting enough, from the beginning of the Bible, we were told that the fat belonged to the Lord. Abel, when he  brought his first offering, not only brought of the firstlings of his flock, but also "of the fat thereof," (Gen. 4:4). Not only that, but in Leviticus  3:3-14 and 4:31-35 we are admonished to give the fat to the Lord. Scriptures further says, "For whosoever eateth the fat of the beast, of which men offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD, even the soul that eateth it shall be cut off from his people. Moreover ye shall eat no manner of blood, whether it be of fowl or of beast, in any of your dwellings," (Lev. 7:25, 26). Isn't that interesting, the two places where modern society detects impurities in the body, in the fat and in the blood, are same places were the Bible has warned us of.

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For a copy of this Fish Consumption Advisories, call 1-800-458-1158 and connect to the 5-digit extension 27815. Or you can reach them on the Health Department website.

The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), publishes "New York State Fishing Regulations Guide," which covers both marine and freshwater fishing. You can get a copy by calling 1-800-REGS-DEC (734-7332), or by visiting one of the Department's regional offices.

To obtain information about contaminant levels in fish, contact DEC's Bureau of Habitat at (518) 457-6178.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency also offers numerous links to information on contaminants and fish advisories.

1 Glauber H, Wallace P, et al. Adverse metabolic effect of omega-3 fatty acids in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Ann Intern Med 1988 May;108(5):663-668.

2 Middaugh JP. Cardiovascular deaths among Alaskan Natives, 1980-86. Am J Public Health 1990 Mar;80(3):282-285.

3 Bairati I. Roy L, Meyer F. Double-blind, randomized, controlled trial of fish oil supplements in prevention of recurrence of stenosis after coronary angioplasty. Circulation 1992 Mar;85(3):950-956.

4 Yetiv JZ. Clinical applications of fish oils. JAMA 1988 Aug 5;260(5):665-670

5 ibid

6 The Food Processor for Windows: Nutrition Analysis & Fitness Software [computer program]. ESHA Research. Salem, Oregon.

7 Yetiv JZ. Clinical applications of fish oils. JAMA 1988 Aug 5;260(5):665-670

8 Food and Drug Administration (FDA) data according to: Schardt D, Schmidt S. Fishing for Safe Seafood. Nutrition Action Health Letter 1996 Nov;23(9):1, 3-5