How much tuna is too much?

breezybree511 · June 2015

I'm a big fan of sushi and I also fill in my protein gaps with canned tuna a couple of times a week. I recently heard that certain seafood (especially tuna) has a lot of mercury and that it can be dangerous in mass quantities. Does anyone know how much tuna is safe for me to eat? I'm female, about 105 lbs, very low body fat. Also, what would the symptoms be of consuming too much mercury?

EzRemake · June 2015

For your weight, 2-3 cans of light tuna a week. 3 is kind of pushing it at your weight, better safe than sorry.

First symptoms of intoxication are general things like insomnia, headaches, energy issues, irritability etc. If it starts getting serious you'll end up with muscle weakness, pain sensations, speech and vision impairment etc. You won't feel right.

MysteriousMerlin · June 2015

here's a calculator: http://www.ewg.org/research/ewgs-good-seafood-guide?gclid=COWN7ePQksYCFQuDaQodeWEARA

breezybree511 · June 2015

EzRemake wrote: »

For your weight, 2-3 cans of light tuna a week. 3 is kind of pushing it at your weight, better safe than sorry.

First symptoms of intoxication are general things like insomnia, headaches, energy issues, irritability etc. If it starts getting serious you'll end up with muscle weakness, pain sensations, speech and vision impairment etc. You won't feel right.

Yikes, okay, good to know. I was pushing three cans a week plus sushi every other weekend or so. But haven't noticed any of the symptoms you mentioned except some headaches.

mike_bold · June 2015

well according to the reputable medical journal that is bodybuilding.com:

"One can of chunk lite a day is a reasonable and safe intake for a 200lbs man without the risks of any health problems"

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/mroussell5.htm

until you have had the dubious privilege of chugging a tuna "shake" then you don't know tuna

breezybree511 · June 2015

mike_bold wrote: »

well according to the reputable medical journal that is bodybuilding.com:

"One can of chunk lite a day is a reasonable and safe intake for a 200lbs man without the risks of any health problems"

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/mroussell5.htm

until you have had the dubious privilege of chugging a tuna "shake" then you don't know tuna

I'm not sure the relevance of this since I'm a 100 lb female, not a 200 lb male

AsISmile · June 2015

MysteriousMerlin wrote: »

here's a calculator: http://www.ewg.org/research/ewgs-good-seafood-guide?gclid=COWN7ePQksYCFQuDaQodeWEARA

Loving this! Especially that it takes sustainability into account.

ShellyBell999 · June 2015

breezybree511 wrote: »

mike_bold wrote: »

well according to the reputable medical journal that is bodybuilding.com:

"One can of chunk lite a day is a reasonable and safe intake for a 200lbs man without the risks of any health problems"

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/mroussell5.htm

until you have had the dubious privilege of chugging a tuna "shake" then you don't know tuna

I'm not sure the relevance of this since I'm a 100 lb female, not a 200 lb male

breezybree511 · June 2015

AsISmile wrote: »

MysteriousMerlin wrote: »

here's a calculator: http://www.ewg.org/research/ewgs-good-seafood-guide?gclid=COWN7ePQksYCFQuDaQodeWEARA

Loving this! Especially that it takes sustainability into account.

This calculator is great! I just tried it

AsISmile · June 2015

breezybree511 wrote: »

AsISmile wrote: »

MysteriousMerlin wrote: »

here's a calculator: http://www.ewg.org/research/ewgs-good-seafood-guide?gclid=COWN7ePQksYCFQuDaQodeWEARA

Loving this! Especially that it takes sustainability into account.

This calculator is great! I just tried it

I did also read that article on bodybuilding.com. You should if you haven't yet. The author raises some good points.

jgnatca · June 2015

The effect of mercury consumption is cumulative. Your lifetime consumption might be concerning if you plan on having children. The chief concern is the effect of mercury on the fetus. Light tuna is not that high (ppm) in mercury.

You have mercury contamination right now, but likely of a "baseline" level that nearly everyone has, and would likely have no effect on you.

It's really hard to find out what level is too much. The recommended servings given above is the general advice given by the FDA, as fish has lots of nutritional benefits, that, at 2-3 servings a week, outweigh the potential for increased mercury exposure.

http://www.epa.gov/mercury/effects.htm

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3115216/

http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodborneIllnessContaminants/Metals/ucm393070.htm

http://www.fda.gov/food/foodborneillnesscontaminants/metals/ucm115644.htm

How much tuna is too much?

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