is eating a can of tuna a day dangerous?

[ryankoch]

in regards to the mercury? ive heard some people say u should only have canned tuna 2 times a week?

[mannydawg]

in regards to the mercury? ive heard some people say u should only have canned tuna 2 times a week?

I would say so humans are not designed to eat metal. but if you want to eat that go ahead. lol

[BookMonkey]

I think driving in California traffic is more dangerous.

[mrkotfw]

I think driving in California traffic is more dangerous.

This. Californian drivers are stupid f4ckers.

BRB, driving +15 MPH just after a dry spell
BRB, driving way more aggressively while it's raining
BRB, sending morse codes with my break lights to the cars behind me

[RS8]

i'm pretty sure its safe for adults, but not for kids. i forgot the science behind it, but you can find the info on google lol

[alleyezonme3]

I don't think to much tuna is bad, I eat 2 cans 6 times a week, so 12 cans a week and I feel fine.

[trance__dreamer]

you guys should try driving in downtown vancouver & especially around the airport...

mind = BLOWN.

[mannydawg]

you guys should try driving in Tijuana Mexico and or Mexico City i did it and don't want to do it again. lol

[nick284]

I eat 2 cans a day :O

[YeomenKek]

Well this is the only one I could find that would let me read the abstract-

Hg, Pb and Cd levels in fresh and canned tuna were determined and assessed by comparing element levels in these samples with maximum permissible limits set by European legislation. The estimated weekly intakes by human consuming both fresh and canned tuna were also evaluated for possible consumer health risks. Among tested metals, Hg had the highest concentrations, followed by Pb and Cd either in fresh tuna or canned tuna. None of the tested samples surpassed the European regulatory limits fixed for Cd and Pb, whereas 8.9% of the tuna cans and 20% of fresh tuna samples exceeded standard for Hg. The size of tuna was a determining factor of Hg burden. A high intake of Hg surpassing the toxicological reference value established by WHO, was associated with consumption of larger size tuna specimens. Also canned tuna consumption with Hg concentrations higher than 1 μg kg(-1), strongly increased the consumer exposure. In contrast, Cd and Pb weekly intakes through consumption either of fresh tuna or canned tuna did not exceed the toxicological reference values established by WHO, and consequently there was no human health risk.

-http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20728500

It doesn't specify the actual weekly intake though, and it's more than likely a lot less than a body builder's.

[drewwonu]

This. Californian drivers are stupid f4ckers.

BRB, driving +15 MPH just after a dry spell
BRB, driving way more aggressively while it's raining
BRB, sending morse codes with my break lights to the cars behind me

no way bro, new jersey is much worse. when people come from overseas where do you think is the first place they learn how to drive is....

[almightyares]

Well this is the only one I could find that would let me read the abstract-



-http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20728500

It doesn't specify the actual weekly intake though, and it's more than likely a lot less than a body builder's.

"None of the tested samples surpassed the European regulatory limits fixed for Cd and Pb, whereas 8.9% of the tuna cans and 20% of fresh tuna samples exceeded standard for Hg. "

Considering several agencies have recommended limits, I would follow those guidelines instead of the abstract of one study.

[andyboi]

I eat one a day, hope I'll be ok!

I heard of a guy in the USA recently who ate 1 can of "bumblebee" tuna a day for a few years. He developed mercury poisoning... he bought it because it was offered at $1 p/can.

[DDon1996]

What the hell happened to this thread. One of the strongest hijacks I have ever seen.

[cybertronik]

in regards to the mercury? ive heard some people say u should only have canned tuna 2 times a week?

I did a bit of research on another thread about this yesterday cos I eat a tin of tuna a day, and until yesterday didnt even know about the health risks concerning mercury in Tuna.

The NHS recommends no more than 300g of white tuna a week. Thats roughly over 2 cans. I usually eat 7 cans a week, and have done for atleast the last 10 years (always loved tuna even before I started lifting) and tbh I feel fine. It did concern me a little tho, so after a bit of research I found out that Sardines contain only trace amounts of Mercury, plus the added bonus that a tin of sardines contains 3g of omega 3 oils.

So, I have decided to ditch the tuna a day and replace it with chicken, but I am now having a tin of sardines a day to get my omega 3 fix.

But saying all this, I remember an article in the paper a few years back saying corn flakes can cause cancer lol. They will be saying air is toxic soon.

[mynameisuntz]

http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/nut...d-mercury.html

[Absurdist]

Yes, it's dangerous.

http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/nut...d-mercury.html

Eidt: lol 2nd-ed.

[snorkelman]

Well this is the only one I could find that would let me read the abstract...

Gerstenberger and colleagues recently analyzed three variations of canned tuna type (solid white, chunk white, and chunk light) that is packed in either oil or water), over a four month purchase period. The researchers reported that 55% of all canned tuna examined in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA was above the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (U.S. EPA) safety level for human consumption (0.5 ppm), and 5% of the tuna exceeded the action level established by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (U.S. FDA) (1.0 ppm).

Here is an excerpt from the paper: “All three brands analyzed
contained Hg in tuna above the U.S. EPA standard for safe consumption, and two of the three brands contained concentrations higher than the U.S. FDA standard.”

See, An evaluation of mercury concentrations in three brands of canned tuna. Gerstnberger SL, Environ Toxicol Chem. 2010 Feb;29(2):237-42.

Also, here is a table from a 2009 study which analyzed the neurodevelopmental risks of methylmercury (MeHg) of eating tuna. See, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...3-ehp-117-267/ As you can see from that analysis, it is recommended to limit your intake of canned light tuna to 12 ounces per week from a mercury standpoint, but canned WHITE tuna should be limited to 6 ounces per week. See, Quantitative approach for incorporating methylmercury risks and omega-3 fatty acid benefits in developing species-specific fish consumption advice. Ginsberg GL, et al. Environ Health Perspect. 2009 Feb;117(2):267-75. Full text at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...HP-117-267.pdf

[Ancher]

Guess its time to start eating more chicken.

[tdsItMFm]

I definitely didn't expect 3+ random conversations to be going on when I opened this thread.

[PHRICK]

New york city driving is a death sentence. Daammm yellow cab drivers they look like they try to hit you lol

[iabs]

I think driving in California traffic is more dangerous.

This. Californian drivers are stupid f4ckers.

BRB, driving +15 MPH just after a dry spell
BRB, driving way more aggressively while it's raining
BRB, sending morse codes with my break lights to the cars behind me

you brahs have obviously never been to Miami.

[EatPrayLift]

sure hope not, im good for at least a can a day. as far as i know its the best protein to cost ratio out there in a whole food

[bogus83]

Having lived in NY, had a gf in NJ, and now living in CA, I can definitively say:
Everyone everyone drives like an @sshole.

"Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?" -George Carlin

Also, mercury is bad stuff. Eat Mor Chikin.

[RondyR]

A lot of depends on both your weight and the kind of tuna that you eat. Albacore and Light Tuna have different levels of mercury, as do farmed and naturally caught tuna. Supposedly, farmed tuna has lower levels of mercury than tuna caught in the open sea. At my weight of 254lbs, the EWG says that I can safely eat 1.5 cans of albacore tuna or 4 cans of Light tuna per week. Of course, I eat more tuna than that.

You can find a calculator here on the EWG dot Org website/tunacalculator.

Just enter your weight and click on Male or Female.

Pregnant women should avoid as much mercury as possible, since increased mercury can be harmful to the development of the fetus. The EWG, or Environmental Working Group, advises pregnant women and children under 5 to avoid Albacore tuna altogether. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states that 12oz a week is safe.

For us men, I don't think this is much of an issue. It seems to be more directly towards women who are pregnant and to young children.

As for tuna, I have a very simple recipe that a lot of people have never heard of - tuna boats. Just some tuna spread into a hot-dog bun, a slice of cheese on top, and toasted in a toaster oven 'til crispy. Cheap, simple, and damn tasty.

[EatPrayLift]

A lot of depends on both your weight and the kind of tuna that you eat. Albacore and Light Tuna have different levels of mercury, as do farmed and naturally caught tuna. Supposedly, farmed tuna has lower levels of mercury than tuna caught in the open sea. At my weight of 254lbs, the EWG says that I can safely eat 1.5 cans of albacore tuna or 4 cans of Light tuna per week. Of course, I eat more tuna than that.

You can find a calculator here on the EWG dot Org website/tunacalculator.

Just enter your weight and click on Male or Female.

Pregnant women should avoid as much mercury as possible, since increased mercury can be harmful to the development of the fetus. The EWG, or Environmental Working Group, advises pregnant women and children under 5 to avoid Albacore tuna altogether. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states that 12oz a week is safe.

For us men, I don't think this is much of an issue. It seems to be more directly towards women who are pregnant and to young children.

As for tuna, I have a very simple recipe that a lot of people have never heard of - tuna boats. Just some tuna spread into a hot-dog bun, a slice of cheese on top, and toasted in a toaster oven 'til crispy. Cheap, simple, and damn tasty.

WOW that sounds great!! im really getting tired of eating mine with brown rice and olive oil lol. gonna have to try that

[TBU720]

I have an aquarium where I raise my own tuna. So mercury isn't an issue.

[BookMonkey]

A lot of depends on both your weight and the kind of tuna that you eat. Albacore and Light Tuna have different levels of mercury, as do farmed and naturally caught tuna. Supposedly, farmed tuna has lower levels of mercury than tuna caught in the open sea. At my weight of 254lbs, the EWG says that I can safely eat 1.5 cans of albacore tuna or 4 cans of Light tuna per week. Of course, I eat more tuna than that.

You can find a calculator here on the EWG dot Org website/tunacalculator.

Just enter your weight and click on Male or Female.

Pregnant women should avoid as much mercury as possible, since increased mercury can be harmful to the development of the fetus. The EWG, or Environmental Working Group, advises pregnant women and children under 5 to avoid Albacore tuna altogether. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states that 12oz a week is safe.

For us men, I don't think this is much of an issue. It seems to be more directly towards women who are pregnant and to young children.

As for tuna, I have a very simple recipe that a lot of people have never heard of - tuna boats. Just some tuna spread into a hot-dog bun, a slice of cheese on top, and toasted in a toaster oven 'til crispy. Cheap, simple, and damn tasty.

A very well done first post. Reps for the good advice, plus the great tuna idea. I'm not a fan of cheese with fish, but I will give it a try and/or modify it later.

[RondyR]

A very well done first post. Reps for the good advice, plus the great tuna idea. I'm not a fan of cheese with fish, but I will give it a try and/or modify it later.

Thanks man, I appreciate that! If you find a tasty variation to my Tuna Boats please let me know; I'd love to give it a shot. But give the cheese a chance, it's actually really good. It's also a quick, cheap meal that children love. My daughter eats these a couple times a month and loves them.

After posting, I cracked open a few medical books, and this is what I've gleamed -
Mercury from fish *can* be dangerous in high doses. Mercury toxicity can damage your central nervous system, which as you all know is pretty dang important. It can also cause damage to your brain, eyes, kidneys, lungs, and teeth. From what I can understand, such damage is caused from HIGH, HIGH amounts of mercury, and can lead to diseases as Hunter-Russel Syndrome and Minamata disease; however, this is still rare. Any raised mercury levels in a pregnant woman can cause severe birth defects, so pregnant ladies need to avoid tuna and pretty much ALL fish and shellfish during the duration of their pregnancy.

The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) provides three recommendations for young children, pregnant women, and women of child-bearing age:

1. Do not eat shark, swordfish, king mackerel, or tilefish because they might contain high levels of mercury.
2. 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 and shellfish that are low in mercury are: shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, pollock, and catfish. Another commonly eaten fish, albacore or big eye ("white") tuna depending on its origin might have more mercury than canned light tuna. So, when choosing your two meals of fish and shellfish, it is recommended that you should not eat more than up to 6 ounces (one average meal) of albacore tuna per week.
3. 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 consume no other fish during that week.
(above information taken from the FDA's website)

Again, it seems that these recommendations aren't meant for men, as we aren't given a mention on the FDA's website. If you are concerned with mercury levels, or just tired of eating tuna all the time, I highly recommend CATFISH. It's cheap, has a good amount of protein, easy as anything to catch from a pond, and is DELICIOUS. I swear I could eat channel catfish every day, but I am a Hillbilly who loves to fish, so maybe I'm just biased. Of course, if you've never skinned a catfish before, be prepared to cuss a lot. It's easier if you nail the head and tail to a board, and use a pair of linesmen pliers to peel the skin. They're some tough fishies.

As a disclaimer, I am NOT a doctor. I'm studying to become a nurse, but I am in no way qualified to give medical advice. If you have questions talk to your doctor. And enjoy your tuna.

EDIT - I was just reading the April 2011 issue of Muscular Development. They have an article concerning tuna and mercury on pages 126 - 128. They cite some studies that mercury can lower your testosterone, and state that the EPA (Enviromental Protection Agency) recommends that anyone, male or female, over 150lbs limit their tuna to ONE 5oz can of white albacore every NINE days, and one can of chunk light tuna every THREE days. So to be honest, there's a lot of contradicting advice out there, and maybe we should just stick with chicken. And catfish :P

[alex2363]

no way bro, new jersey is much worse. when people come from overseas where do you think is the first place they learn how to drive is....

lmao..i drive a bus in jersey, believe me they are worst drivers in the world, i was raised in philly and i thought philly was bad til moved to nj. in NJ they cut you off and then drive 15 mph in front of you, why cut me off and then just drive 15 mph?