Is too much tuna bad?

angelicasmommy
angelicasmommy Posts: 303 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I've read that tuna has a lot of mercury. Since trying to get my protein up, I've been eating a can a day (for the last week)
Is that too much?
(Someone on here said they eat 3 cans a day? Then again I don't know if that's every day)
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Replies

  • monstercakes
    monstercakes Posts: 78 Member
    it can be bad if you eat it that often. also, your body responds better when you eat different foods every day!
    do you like eggs? the whites have a LOT of protein.
    tofu is great for protein. a lot of beans, seeds, and greek yogurt have good protein too.
    you can always try protein bars + supplements too :)
    variety is always better! good luck
  • bcf7683
    bcf7683 Posts: 1,653 Member
    I've heard about the mercury nonsense too... I suppose it's not that good for you in the long run.
    But neither is eating cheese burgers.
    You gotta make a decision somewhere.

    I wouldn't worry about it to the point that you ration yourself to a can per week because your afraid your going to sprout an extra arm due to mercury.
    But if you are concerned, you could always try working in some grilled chicken or a protein shake instead. I also rinse off my tuna after draining out the excess water- rinses off a little sodium too.
  • monstercakes
    monstercakes Posts: 78 Member
    I wouldn't worry about it to the point that you ration yourself to a can per week because your afraid your going to sprout an extra arm due to mercury.
    this is true too haha!
  • BLSaw
    BLSaw Posts: 216 Member
    try cottage cheese if it will break it up and make you feel better.
  • secretlobster
    secretlobster Posts: 3,566 Member
    One can a day is a lot of tuna. Yeah.
  • TheVimFuego
    TheVimFuego Posts: 2,412 Member
    One can a day is a lot of tuna. Yeah.

    How big is this can?
  • secretlobster
    secretlobster Posts: 3,566 Member
    How big is this can?

    I'm assuming it's the standard 6oz can, as I've not seen any other sizes
  • angelicasmommy
    angelicasmommy Posts: 303 Member
    The serving size is 60g which is half a can, so two servings of tuna at 120 cals and 28 or 30g protein (I can't remember exactly.)

    I like tuna because 1) It's a lot of protein and 2) It's cheap. Single mom on a budget.
  • xarge
    xarge Posts: 484 Member
    http://www.nrdc.org/health/effects/mercury/tuna.asp

    This may help. Unrelated to above, I eat 1-2 cans a week easy, 106 grams drained each.
  • Midnight_Sunshine
    Midnight_Sunshine Posts: 369 Member
    I've heard about the mercury nonsense too... I suppose it's not that good for you in the long run.

    I'm sorry. Nonsense? So because you don't like the way something sounds it's just nonsense now? :noway:

    Have you ever heard of bio accumulation?

    http://www.lvrj.com/news/study_-mercury-in-canned-tuna-high-83006612.html

    http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/story/2007/02/19/tuna-testing.html

    http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/the-hot-button/heart-healthy-tuna-is-good-until-you-get-mercury-poisoning/article4190583/

    Mercury is extremely high in large ocean fish like tuna. You are not supposed to exceed 3 CANS A WEEK. Especially if you are a woman and especially if you are of child bearing age.

    Switch to salmon, it is not nearly as bad.


    I do not get this site. Do you people never read/watch the news/been in a science class?
  • angelicasmommy
    angelicasmommy Posts: 303 Member
    I don't like salmon :/ I'm normally the type to say I don't like something even though I have never tried it, but I HAVE tried salmon and I know how good it is for you but YUCK. I do like white fish like cod, haddock, sole etc. Maybe I'll get that next.
  • TheVimFuego
    TheVimFuego Posts: 2,412 Member
    How big is this can?

    I'm assuming it's the standard 6oz can, as I've not seen any other sizes

    There is a shedload of tuna in all sizes in my local Woolies, just trying to establish a standard ;)
  • KittieLea
    KittieLea Posts: 1,156 Member
    Well *kitten*, I've been eating about a can every night this week because I made tuna salad.
  • TheVimFuego
    TheVimFuego Posts: 2,412 Member
    Well *kitten*, I've been eating about a can every night this week because I made tuna salad.

    It's not like you've been ingesting arsenic-injected Marlboro Reds, I think you can relax ;)
  • secretlobster
    secretlobster Posts: 3,566 Member
    It's not like you've been ingesting arsenic-injected Marlboro Reds, I think you can relax ;)

    So you're saying the "no more than one can every 3 days" rule is BS because mercury isn't arsenic?
  • vypeters
    vypeters Posts: 475 Member
    Canned tuna does contain mercury, but according to the FDA it's one of the lower mercury seafood items. Linky: http://www.fda.gov/food/foodsafety/product-specificinformation/seafood/foodbornepathogenscontaminants/methylmercury/ucm115662.htm

    And quote:

    By following these 3 recommendations for selecting and eating fish or shellfish, women and young children will receive the benefits of eating fish and shellfish and be confident that they have reduced their exposure to the harmful effects of mercury.

    Do not eat Shark, Swordfish, King Mackerel, or Tilefish because they contain high levels of mercury.
    Eat up to 12 ounces (2 average meals) a week of a variety of fish and shellfish that are lower in mercury.

    Five of the most commonly eaten fish that are low in mercury are shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, pollock, and catfish.
    Another commonly eaten fish, albacore ("white") tuna has more mercury than canned light tuna. So, when choosing your two meals of fish and shellfish, you may eat up to 6 ounces (one average meal) of albacore tuna per week.

    Check local advisories about the safety of fish caught by family and friends in your local lakes, rivers, and coastal areas. If no advice is available, eat up to 6 ounces (one average meal) per week of fish you catch from local waters, but don't consume any other fish during that week.
  • jakidb
    jakidb Posts: 1,010 Member
    Tuna has a lot of sodium too...
  • jsj024519
    jsj024519 Posts: 400 Member
    I've heard about the mercury nonsense too... I suppose it's not that good for you in the long run.
    But neither is eating cheese burgers.
    You gotta make a decision somewhere.

    You hit the bulls eye
  • RunMyOregonBunsOff
    RunMyOregonBunsOff Posts: 862 Member
    I wouldn't do a can a day but canned light (not white albicore) is pretty low in mercurey while fresh ahi is among the highest mercury. The people that need to avoid it the most are women that are pregnant or trying to become pregnant. There are guidlines as to how much to eat withing a time frame. (Ahi, no more than 6 oz in 2 to 3 months)
  • bcf7683
    bcf7683 Posts: 1,653 Member
    Well *kitten*, I've been eating about a can every night this week because I made tuna salad.

    It's not like you've been ingesting arsenic-injected Marlboro Reds, I think you can relax ;)

    ^Agreed.

    And excuse my chosen words of "non-sense". In my opinion, I worry about so many other things de-railing my body goals that I can live my life comfortably without adding this one to the list.

    If you feel that strongly, don't eat tuna.
    Problem solved.

    Now I'm going to go have a tuna melt and enjoy my day. :laugh:
  • susanswan
    susanswan Posts: 1,194 Member
    I LOVE canned tuna, but wouldn't eat a can a day. I think the mercury warnings are real. Consequences are down the road quite a ways. Eat a variety of other things as well for better nutrition.
  • DaBossLady24
    DaBossLady24 Posts: 556 Member
    Yeah, definitely just polished off a 10 oz can yesterday... I may have an extra appendage soon. :noway:
  • gailashton
    gailashton Posts: 292
    I was told limit 2 cans a week due to the mercury. I eat a lot of egg whites to get some extra protein. I had a friend who got mercury poisoning because he was eating a can a day.
  • sun33082
    sun33082 Posts: 416 Member
    My co-worker just told me yesterday that a friend of hers is having to go through testing for high mercury levels in her body because she was eating a can of day for protein (she's a vegetarian). So I would be careful.
  • warmachinejt
    warmachinejt Posts: 2,162 Member
    http://howmuchfish.org/
    i eat around a can everyday. Sometimes 2 cans every other day.
  • neurochamp
    neurochamp Posts: 261 Member
    Mercury in food is *most* harmful to developing brains, so *most* of the warnings are targeted at women who are pregnant or may become pregnant (due to the effects on the child, *not* the effects on the mom; mercury and other heavy metals interfere with the normal growth of brain cells, which causes much more serious problems in developing babies than it does in mature adult brains). It takes a LOT of mercury-laden fish to cause serious health problems in an adult...but, that said, I personally try to eat canned tuna no more than 2-3 times per week (just in case...and I don't even plan to have kids, ever).

    Just my $0.02 as a person who has a PhD in studying brains :bigsmile:

    ETA: I also wouldn't eat more than 2-3 cans of tuna per week largely because I'd get sick of it, so that plays in, too :wink: For the record, I do eat swordfish now and then (because it's DELICIOUS), but again, I don't plan to have kids.
  • angelicasmommy
    angelicasmommy Posts: 303 Member
    I completely agree, I'm pretty sure eating a can a day is less harmful than eating a 2L of chocolate ice cream (that I did last night, damn binge eating :/ ) But I still don't want to eat that much if it's bad, so I'm gonna cut it down.
  • MMoriarty2012
    MMoriarty2012 Posts: 31
    I eat less tuna than I might would prefer, based on the recommended guidelines. Fortunately, I like sardines: http://www.nrdc.org/health/effects/mercury/guide.asp
  • xarge
    xarge Posts: 484 Member
    I LOVE canned tuna, but wouldn't eat a can a day. I think the mercury warnings are real. Consequences are down the road quite a ways. Eat a variety of other things as well for better nutrition.

    Of course they're real. We've been dumping crap (pun intended) into seas and oceans for decades.
  • TeeDeezy
    TeeDeezy Posts: 40 Member
    I used to eat a can every day. Did it for about a month. Never had any problems at all. The only residual effect I noticed is that my body had to adjust to not getting as much protein after I lost all the weight I wanted and stopped eating the tuna every day. I'd have days where I was feening for protein and would have to grab the peanut butter or get some beef immediately. I still eat a can at least once a week for lunch. Starkist Select Very Low Sodium is my go to.

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