Robbins had decided it was time for a dietary change. In lieu of his usual vegan diet, he started eating more fish, especially tuna and swordfish, according to Men’s Journal. It didn’t take long for the diet to start affecting him — but not in a good way. Robbins found himself sick with a severe case of mercury poisoning. “I almost died,” he said of the incident, which turned him off fish.
Unfortunately, his experience is all too common. Eating seafood is the most common cause of mercury poisoning, according to Healthline. This is because industrial waste runoff can result in high levels of mercury in lakes or other water sources, which in turn leads to high levels of mercury in fish. Some fish are especially likely to contain mercury, including the tuna and swordfish in Robbins’ seafood-heavy diet. Other types of seafood, like salmon, shrimp, and anchovies, are safer, but even these shouldn’t be eaten more than once or twice a week.
If you’re worried you might have mercury poisoning, keep an eye out for symptoms like lack of coordination, muscle weakness, and vision changes. Mercury has particularly worrisome complications in kids or pregnant women, so be especially careful about any changes in behavior.
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