Pescatarians in the house?
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Yesenia882018
Posts: 10 Member
So I've been reading a lot about been vegetarian and I came across reading about pescatarian. I want to kick red meat to the curve but I do love fish. I have a few questions though. Do I need to take any supplement vitamins if I become pescatarian? Also what about mercury could I still eat certain fish every day or every other day?
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Replies
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b 12!!!!!!!!!0
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I'm a pescatarian (for 20 years), but I only eat fish about twice a week. Therefore, I don't worry about mercury.
Here is a good article (from UK health service) about recommendations:
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/fish-and-shellfish-nutrition/
My doctor is so convinced that I need B-12 that I take one every other day, especially now that I am on a proton pump inhibitor for GERD (acid reflux) which makes it tougher to absorb B-12.
I take other supplements to address specific health issues, but they are not because of my diet.
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bold_rabbit wrote: »I'm a pescatarian (for 20 years), but I only eat fish about twice a week. Therefore, I don't worry about mercury.
Here is a good article (from UK health service) about recommendations:
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/fish-and-shellfish-nutrition/
My doctor is so convinced that I need B-12 that I take one every other day, especially now that I am on a proton pump inhibitor for GERD (acid reflux) which makes it tougher to absorb B-12.
I take other supplements to address specific health issues, but they are not because of my diet.
The bolded is an important distinction, since you're in the "my doctor says otherwise" camp
There's a lot of misinformation about B12 around here. People who are routinely eating animal products--barring other relevant medical conditions--are probably getting enough B12, and their livers are probably also storing B12. Many fish are excellent sources of B12.
Additionally, the liver stores about 3-5 years' worth of B12, so even if someone went vegan and did not supplement properly, they should have enough to last a while. (But vegans should still supplement B12 correctly, and what constitutes "correctly" is a little complicated: https://www.theveganrd.com/vegan-nutrition-101/vegan-nutrition-primers/vitamin-b12-a-vegan-nutrition-primer/)
Bottom line is follow doctor's orders, and don't assume you need a supplement unless you have a good reason to think you do. In this case, "a good reason" would be if you eat zero or very few animal products, you have a diagnosed deficiency, or you have another diagnosed relevant condition.6 -
Sure, but fish is an animal product.
I haven't checked all fish, but when I logged wild salmon on Cronometer it easily met the B12 requirement, and so did tuna (I didn't check the canned type since I hate it, however).
That said, apparently B12 is now recommended for everyone over 50. I'm 100% plant-based usually about 3-4 days a week and currently eating fish about once or twice a week most weeks, so do supplement, at least from time to time. I figure it can't hurt.3 -
Re eating fish once a day or every other day, the amount of pollution/mercury content varies. With higher content ones, I wouldn't eat them daily or every other day, personally, but it is going to matter more for children and women of childbearing years (who might get pregnant).
Here's one list that could be helpful: https://www.nrdc.org/sites/default/files/walletcard.pdf1 -
Sure, but fish is an animal product.
I haven't checked all fish, but when I logged wild salmon on Cronometer it easily met the B12 requirement, and so did tuna (I didn't check the canned type since I hate it, however).
That said, apparently B12 is now recommended for everyone over 50. I'm 100% plant-based usually about 4 days a week and currently eating fish about once or twice a week most weeks, so do supplement, at least from time to time. I figure it can't hurt.
i dont suppliment daily, but i can for sure tell when my b12 is low. its a terrible feeling!0 -
You will not immediately become B12 deficient if you stop eating animal products unless you were already deficient or have some medical condition that interferes with your body’s ability to use or store B12.
If you believe you fall into one of those categories, you need to see your doctor.
OP did not stop eating animal products and therefore this discussion is unlikely to apply to them.3 -
You will not immediately become B12 deficient if you stop eating animal products unless you were already deficient or have some medical condition that interferes with your body’s ability to use or store B12.
If you believe you fall into one of those categories, you need to see your doctor.
OP did not stop eating animal products and therefore this discussion is unlikely to apply to them.
i eat fish daily, actually tuna daily. i have been tested many many times. all levels are normal.
that being said, what happens to me, does not mean that it will happen to others.
maybe my body is just messed up.
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You don’t need B12 if you eat fish regularly.0
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once again, what happens to me may not happen to others0
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I think the point is just that eating fish daily (for example) gives you plenty of dietary B12, so if there is a need for supplementation despite that, it is not because cutting out non-fish meat requires B12 supplementation due to a lack of B12 sources in the diet, but because one might have a specific issue with B12 absorption. So if OP is eating fish very regularly it's not an issue just because of no beef, pork, and chicken. (Some people might be pescatarians and eat fish once every week or two, and also no dairy or foods fortified with B12, and they might want to supplement, of course.)2
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I decided to become pescatarian in January 2020. So far I have not missed eating meat. I get plenty of B12 from eggs, milk and the fish I eat a couple of times a week.0
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Been pescatarian for almost 20 years. No issues with vitamin deficiency, I eat fish maybe once a week, eggs a few times a week, cheese/milk a few times a week.0
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Our liver can store B12, but when we eliminate animal products from our diet there is no good way to tell how much we have stored. This is why everyone not eating animal products should immediately begin supplementing or regularly choosing fortified foods.
But OP isn't in the situation of not eating food from animals. They're planning to eat fish and likely will also be consuming eggs and diary. It's not relevant to their situation.1
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