BEWARE MERCURY MENACE IN OUR FISH!

A reports says, more than half of canned tune contains unsafe levels of mercury.

Especially bad, note researches, is albacore white tune, which has three times more mercury than chunk light tuna. A team from the University of Nevada Las Vegas ( UNLV) studied 300 cans of the fishy treat, and found that 55 percent contained more mercury than is recommended by the U.S enrionmental Protection Agency ( EPA).

The level of mercury in seafood varies greatly. That's because the toxic metal is a naturally occurring elements that is found in rocks, and the amount each fish contains depends on where they were living.

Mercury poisoning can cause vision and hearing problems, and damage the central nervous system, leading to walking and speech difficulties. It also increases the risk of miscarriage, and can cause brain defects in babies.

Melrose Place and One tree Hill actress Daphine Zuniga,47, Knows all too well the misery it can create. I was eating tuna four times a week, says zuniga who developed a rash on her body, and started suffering severe headaches, Cramping in her feet, and kept forgetting her lines. I also had crying spells, depression and I'd get disoriented when talking to people. she admits.

When a blood test revealed she had far too much mercury in her blood. Zuniga stopped eating seafood, on her doctor's orders until her symptoms disappeared.

Entourage star Jeremy Piven 44, had similar problems in 2008 when he was forced to pull out of a broadway show due to extreme mercury toxicity, which he blamed on his love of sushi.

while seafood is an excellent source of lean protein and heart healthy omega 3 fatty acids, scientist say almost all fish is contaminated with trace amounts of mercury. Fish that contains the highest levels are shark,swordish,king mackered and tilefish. Safer choices include shrimp,pollock,light tuna,salmon and catfish, according to the EPA.

The way you cook seafood also makes a difference. While poaching,roasting or grilling are safest, deep frying can actually increase the amount of mercury. The EPA recommends that kids, pregnant woman and nursing moms eat no more 12 0z of light tuna a week.

We never say don't eat tuna, says UNLV professor Shawn Gerstenberger, But if you are worried about mercury exposure, there are some easy choices you can make to limit exposure.