Tuna, swordfish, shark, and king mackerel all subsist by eating smaller fish. Mercury accrues inside these larger species of fish making it unsafe for pregnant women to eat. Mercury skips the placenta and travels directly to the baby's developing brain. Sardines have the lowest rate of trace mercury of all fish making it safe for expecting moms. In fact, the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch group ranks Pacific Sardines as a "best choice" due to their plenitude and rapid reproduction percentage. The United States Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommend that 12 ounces of low-mercury fish are safe for pregnant women. Always discuss dietary changes with your doctor.

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