For starters, who is Michael Byrd and what is he talking about?

Well, according to his column in the American Chronicle he’s a former physical therapist who doles out nutrition advice that is apparently not well researched and not vetted by a dietitian.

Yesterday Byrd took aim at “Myths You Must Know About Tuna” and claimed that, “in order to get the appropriate amount of omega that you would need to get dramatic cardiovascular results and memory enhancement, you would have to eat pounds of tuna every day.” He gives no scientific citation for this claim, but here are a couple to refute it:

Archives of Neurology – Participants who consume fish once per week or more have 60 percent less risk of Alzheimer’s disease compared with those who rarely or never eat fish.

The Lancet – Mothers who ate 12 ounces (2-3 servings) of fish per week or more had babies with the best brain development and social skills.

Byrd goes on to suggest that “it is far easier and far healthier to simply take an omega-3 fish oil supplement each day rather than try to eat the massive amounts of tuna necessary to get omega 3 benefits.”

Again, no studies to back this up. In fact the pill approach is at odds with the recommendations of the American Dietetic Association’s “food first” position, which states:

“It is the position of the American Dietetic Association that the best nutrition-based strategy for promoting optimal health and reducing the risk of chronic disease is to wisely choose a wide variety of nutrient-rich foods.”

Furthermore, Tufts Nutrition recently concluded that “at this time data does not support fish oil capsules as an equivalent substitute for fish” (page 10).

To suggest that it is healthier for people to take a supplement rather than eat high protein, high omega-3, lean tuna that is rich in vitamin D, B, and selenium is inconsistent with nutrition science and quite frankly rather reckless.

Sure-have the cheese burger and fries instead of a tuna sandwich… as long as you take a handful of fish oil supplements you’ll be fine!

He then addresses the issue of seafood during pregnancy by writing, “you’re probably aware that women are discouraged from eating tuna while they are pregnant because the mercury and other contaminants legally allowed to be in the fish can harm the baby.”

Um, maybe this is “common knowledge” in the physical therapist community, but the official guidance on eating fish from the FDA and EPA says in black and white that pregnant women and young children should aim for 12 ounces of a variety of fish a week, of which as much as 6 ounces can be canned albacore tuna. And as much as you want can be canned light tuna. The advice notes, “a well-balanced diet that includes a variety of fish and shellfish can contribute to heart health and children’s proper growth and development. So, women and young children in particular should include fish or shellfish in their diets due to the many nutritional benefits.”