Is too much tuna bad?

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.

try cottage cheese if it will break it up and make you feel better.

One can a day is a lot of tuna. Yeah.

How big is this can?

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?

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

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

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.

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

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:

Yeah, definitely just polished off a 10 oz can yesterday... I may have an extra appendage soon. :noway:

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.

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 For the record, I do eat swordfish now and then (because it's DELICIOUS), but again, I don't plan to have kids.

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

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.