Canned tuna is high in mercury and omega-3s, which are both good for you. But there’s a catch: the amount of mercury found in canned is tuna healthy can vary greatly depending on where it was caught, when it was caught and how long ago it was caught.
The average American diet contains about 3 ounces of fish per week (1 ounce equals about 1/2 can). While this is generally considered an adequate amount to get all the omega-3 fatty acids you need from fish alone—and many people think that eating more than 6 ounces per week could be harmful because of their harmful effects on our bodies—canned tuna doesn’t only contain these beneficial fats; it also has more than its fair share of other nutrients that may help keep you healthy: protein (6 grams per serving), calcium (20 milligrams) and selenium (50 micrograms).
Ouch! Tuna has gotten a bad rap for nearly two decades. When someone asks about tuna, the first thing that pops in our minds is probably mercury. But contrary to popular belief, tuna is as safe as it’s always been! Just remember to eat tuna in moderation. To clear the air and make you feel safe, here’s the deal with tuna and mercury. Mercury can build up in the blood stream over time. The way to counter it is to limit the amount of mercury that you consume. Mercury can do a lot of damage to a baby’s brain, the thyroid and even the nervous system. If you are pregnant, try to limit your intake of canned tuna to 6 ounces per week. If you are breastfeeding, try to limit your intake to 12 ounces per week. If you are trying to get pregnant, limit your intake to 12 ounces per week.
Unfortunately, most companies today don’t give much attention to human rights violations or environmental impact of their products. They often use dirty tricks to increase the profit while threatening our planet’s stability. One way to ensure that the tuna you are buying is sustainable is to check the label. Not all tuna is caught using dolphin-friendly methods. If you can’t find the label, then it’s better to opt for another product. Buying a tuna made from a sustainable brand will ensure a good future for our planet.
Should women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or trying to get pregnant limit how much-canned tuna they eat?
- Pregnant women should avoid tuna, because it can be high in mercury.
- Women who are breastfeeding or trying to get pregnant should limit how much-canned tuna they eat, as it may contain mercury.
- If you’re not pregnant or breastfeeding, it’s safe for you to eat up to 6 ounces of canned tuna per week (about 3 ounces per day).
- This is a very good question and the first thing to do is to forgo the canned tuna. Canned tuna is among the most wasteful, environmentally unfriendly things that you can consume. Next time you go shopping, check out your local supermarkets’ fresh/organic sections. They often have great and sustainably caught tuna and you can find some of the best cuts too! Don’t forget to look out for the Marine Stewardship Council certified products, they are always the best.
How can I make sure that the canned tuna I buy is sustainably caught?
You can make sure that the canned is tuna good for you buy is sustainably caught by looking for a dolphin-safe logo. The Dolphin Safe® Program certifies that tuna companies have taken steps to ensure the safety of their products and workers, as well as their ability to produce safe seafood ingredients. Look for this logo on cans of tuna, sardines and other fish products (like salmon).
If you’re shopping in person at your local grocery store or other retailer, ask if they carry sustainable seafood options like wild Alaskan salmon instead of farmed Atlantic salmon. If they don’t have any on hand but can order it if you’re willing to wait a few days—which might be worth it because prices tend to fluctuate depending on supply and demand—try buying from an independent company like Wild Planet Canned Seafoods instead of one that has less transparency around its sourcing practices.
When you shop for canned tuna, the best way to ensure you are purchasing sustainably caught tuna is to look for the Marine Stewardship Council’s (MSC) blue label. The MSC is a non-profit organization that works to conserve the world’s oceans. They’ve been around since 1997 and they’re the gold standard when it comes to sustainable seafood. Check out the MSC’s list of tuna fisheries and the sustainable seafood guide to find a brand of tuna that you can trust is safe to eat. It’s easy to go green when it comes to seafood and once you get the hang of it, it becomes second nature to choose sustainable seafood options.
- Note: Some people choose not to purchase imported canned tuna due to concerns over pollution caused by fishing practices used by foreign countries such as China or Indonesia; however there’s no evidence suggesting these fears are justified when compared against similar imported items made with domestic fish harvested using safer methods such as pole-and-line methods instead automated trawlers which use nets dragged through ocean waters without regard for how many fish die due mechanical injuries sustained during transportation between boats.” If we may be of any similar assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact us (ajalijutt89@gmail.com).
