Tuna and Mercury

[Kirby]

I freaking love canned tuna. It's $.69 and has nearly 28 grams of protein per can. But I don't want to overdo it and get too much mercury in my system, so how much should I eat? I seen everything from 3 times a week to once a month. As a poor college student, this is quite imperative.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: nkgreen
I freaking love canned tuna. It's $.69 and has nearly 28 grams of protein per can. But I don't want to overdo it and get too much mercury in my system, so how much should I eat? I seen everything from 3 times a week to once a month. As a poor college student, this is quite imperative.

There is a miniscule amount of mercury in tuna nowadays. The FDA has regulated mercury in tuna in a couple of parts per million. Check out this site to look for what shellfish/fish is high in mercury. I researched it once and you'd have to eat something like 5 cans a day to get any significant of mercury in your system.

 

[Auric]

Hmm, how much deadly toxin is safe?

Better to favour vegetable protein and get other nutrients such as Omega-3 from molecularly distilled supplements. The cost will balance out sans the risk.

 

[Deeko]

Originally posted by: Auric
Hmm, how much deadly toxin is safe?

Better to favour vegetable protein and get other nutrients such as Omega-3 from molecularly distilled supplements. The cost will balance out sans the risk.

vegetable protein isn't NEARLY as efficient as animal protein, especially fish protein. I hope you're ready to eat 500g of protein a day, if you want to get all of your protein from vegetables.

Anyway, what SociallyChallenged said is accurate. I wouldn't be worried about it (and I'm not...I eat a lot of tuna. Thanks, Costco!)

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: Auric
Hmm, how much deadly toxin is safe?

Better to favour vegetable protein and get other nutrients such as Omega-3 from molecularly distilled supplements. The cost will balance out sans the risk.

There is zero risk. Vegetables do not provide an easily accessed source of protein. It is difficult to get certain amounts of protein as a vegetarian. Stop being schizo. It's all heavily regulated.

 

[Auric]

Welp, there are other options betwixt the easy/high-risk and more difficult/no-risk ways. For instance, fish from lower on the food chain such as sardine is both low cost and low risk.

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: Auric
Welp, there are other options betwixt the easy/high-risk and more difficult/no-risk ways. For instance, fish from lower on the food chain such as sardine is both low cost and low risk.

Yes, and tuna is NOT high risk.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: Auric
Welp, there are other options betwixt the easy/high-risk and more difficult/no-risk ways. For instance, fish from lower on the food chain such as sardine is both low cost and low risk.

Tuna is a no-risk solution. Do some research and tell me it's not. You would need something like 10+ pounds of tuna a week for years to have any poor effect on your system. Have you ever drank a diet soda? That's higher risk than tuna, for Christ's sake. Seriously, research your stuff.

EDIT: Here's a link that was provided to me when I made a joke about tuna and mercury. Salmon has higher mercury levels than normal canned chunk light tuna.

 

[Kirby]

Thanks a lot SociallyChallenged. According to the calculator I'd need about 11.6 lbs for it to be a health risk. I was hoping I wasn't about to keel over and die from the 3 cans I ate Monday night.

 

[Auric]

Originally posted by: SociallyChallenged

Tuna is a no-risk solution. Do some research and tell me it's not. You would need something like 10+ pounds of tuna a week for years to have any poor effect on your system. Have you ever drank a diet soda? That's higher risk than tuna, for Christ's sake. Seriously, research your stuff.

EDIT: Here's a link that was provided to me when I made a joke about tuna and mercury. Salmon has higher mercury levels than normal canned chunk light tuna.

I counter your dodgy front-organization for the "fast food, meat, and tobacco industries" with oceana.org. lulz

And no, I have not drank a diet soda. I did have soda occasionally as a child.

 

[Deeko]

Ok, so according to that link, don't eat albacore and you're a-ok!

Good think I don't eat albacore.

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: Auric

Originally posted by: SociallyChallenged

Tuna is a no-risk solution. Do some research and tell me it's not. You would need something like 10+ pounds of tuna a week for years to have any poor effect on your system. Have you ever drank a diet soda? That's higher risk than tuna, for Christ's sake. Seriously, research your stuff.

EDIT: Here's a link that was provided to me when I made a joke about tuna and mercury. Salmon has higher mercury levels than normal canned chunk light tuna.

I counter your dodgy front-organization for the "fast food, meat, and tobacco industries" with oceana.org. lulz

And no, I have not drank a diet soda. I did have soda occasionally as a child.

That link doesn't say at all that eating tuna is bad for you. It says that tuna has 1 ppm and that to much mercury is bad.

 

[cdmccool]

GET BIG OR DIE TRYIN'

I eat a can of tuna fish everyday.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: Auric

Originally posted by: SociallyChallenged

Tuna is a no-risk solution. Do some research and tell me it's not. You would need something like 10+ pounds of tuna a week for years to have any poor effect on your system. Have you ever drank a diet soda? That's higher risk than tuna, for Christ's sake. Seriously, research your stuff.

EDIT: Here's a link that was provided to me when I made a joke about tuna and mercury. Salmon has higher mercury levels than normal canned chunk light tuna.

I counter your dodgy front-organization for the "fast food, meat, and tobacco industries" with oceana.org. lulz

And no, I have not drank a diet soda. I did have soda occasionally as a child.

That website and the website I provided agree. Both websites agree that if you took in over X amount of tuna that it will be hazardous. Way to go, buddy.

 

[Special K]

Originally posted by: SociallyChallenged

Originally posted by: nkgreen
I freaking love canned tuna. It's $.69 and has nearly 28 grams of protein per can. But I don't want to overdo it and get too much mercury in my system, so how much should I eat? I seen everything from 3 times a week to once a month. As a poor college student, this is quite imperative.

There is a miniscule amount of mercury in tuna nowadays. The FDA has regulated mercury in tuna in a couple of parts per million. Check out this site to look for what shellfish/fish is high in mercury. I researched it once and you'd have to eat something like 5 cans a day to get any significant of mercury in your system.

Are you sure about that? Here is what it says:

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.

One regular-sized can of chunk light tuna is 6 oz. That means you shouldn't eat more than 2 cans per week.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: Special K

Originally posted by: SociallyChallenged

Originally posted by: nkgreen
I freaking love canned tuna. It's $.69 and has nearly 28 grams of protein per can. But I don't want to overdo it and get too much mercury in my system, so how much should I eat? I seen everything from 3 times a week to once a month. As a poor college student, this is quite imperative.

There is a miniscule amount of mercury in tuna nowadays. The FDA has regulated mercury in tuna in a couple of parts per million. Check out this site to look for what shellfish/fish is high in mercury. I researched it once and you'd have to eat something like 5 cans a day to get any significant of mercury in your system.

Are you sure about that? Here is what it says:

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.

One regular-sized can of chunk light tuna is 6 oz. That means you shouldn't eat more than 2 cans per week.

Read the title of that page - "2004 EPA and FDA Advice For: Women Who Might Become, Pregnant, Women Who are Pregnant, Nursing Mothers, Young Children." These are not numbers / suggestions for average adults.

 

[Special K]

Originally posted by: SociallyChallenged

Originally posted by: Special K

Originally posted by: SociallyChallenged

Originally posted by: nkgreen
I freaking love canned tuna. It's $.69 and has nearly 28 grams of protein per can. But I don't want to overdo it and get too much mercury in my system, so how much should I eat? I seen everything from 3 times a week to once a month. As a poor college student, this is quite imperative.

There is a miniscule amount of mercury in tuna nowadays. The FDA has regulated mercury in tuna in a couple of parts per million. Check out this site to look for what shellfish/fish is high in mercury. I researched it once and you'd have to eat something like 5 cans a day to get any significant of mercury in your system.

Are you sure about that? Here is what it says:

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.

One regular-sized can of chunk light tuna is 6 oz. That means you shouldn't eat more than 2 cans per week.

Read the title of that page - "2004 EPA and FDA Advice For: Women Who Might Become, Pregnant, Women Who are Pregnant, Nursing Mothers, Young Children." These are not numbers / suggestions for average adults.

D'oh, you're right. Where did you find the tuna consumption limits for everyone else?

 

[yelo333]

Originally posted by: Special K

D'oh, you're right. Where did you find the tuna consumption limits for everyone else?

I guess they don't exist. From that FishScam website posted earlier:

The FDA has issued no consumption advice about the amount of fish that's safe for older kids, teens, men, post-menopausal women, and women who don't plan to become pregnant.

 

[Special K]

Here's a quote from an article I found on Consumer Reports:

What about canned tuna for men and older women?

The same weekly intake that's considered safe for women of childbearing age who are not pregnant--roughly three cans of chunk-light tuna or one can of solid-light or white--is almost surely safe for men and older women as well. They can quite likely eat more than that without harm, but the exact amounts are not known.

Source:

link


Here are some quotes from an article about tuna I found on T-Nation:

? The science shows that there's no reason bodybuilders should cut tuna out of their diets due to the current mercury scare.

? One can of chunk lite a day is a reasonable and safe intake for a 200-pound man without risking any health problems.

? If you want to eat more tuna now, make sure to increase your consumption over the course of several weeks so your kidneys can adjust.

? Adding 1.5 grams of NAC to your diet is a good idea if you eat a lot of tuna. This will help keep your glutathione stores full and your liver healthy.

Source:

link