Fish are part of a balanced diet
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nWVDHHR recommends that people follow WV and US fish advisories to:
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nobtain the benefits from eating fish (such as the omega-3 fatty acids needed for proper neurological development) while
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navoiding exposures to chemicals at levels that may affect their health.
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Fish are part of a balanced diet.  People can eat fish caught in West Virginia waters without experiencing harm from mercury exposures by following fish advisories.  People should follow national fish advisories for seafood and other fish.  This allows people to :

•obtain the benefits from eating fish (such as the omega-3 fatty acids needed for proper neurological development) while
avoiding exposures to chemicals at levels that may affect their health.

Two studies noted in the report indicate the importance of omege-3 fatty acids on brain development.

•Babies of mothers who have eaten too little omega-3-fatty acids have lower IQ scores.

•In addition, mothers in the Seychelles Islands who ate the most fish had children who performed best when tested for neurological functioning, presumably due to the beneficial effects of omega-3-fatty acids on brain development.