Concerns of Canned Tuna and Chicken Breast?

[freak111]

Hello all,


I know among many college students rely on canned tuna and chicken breast due to cost issues for their protein sources. The only negative thing I heard about canned tuna and chicken breast is that the sodium content is too high.

Does anyone here purchase bulk big canned tuna and chicken breast and can someone tell me if the sodium is too high? Or rather just wash away the liquid and drain it with water to make it have less-water? and is this source okay to eat daily for 2-3 meals?

Thank you all!!

[WonderPug]

Assuming you're not hypertensive or a hyper-responder to sodium, I'd wouldn't worry within reasonable intake ranges. However, I would be concerned about mercury concentrations in tuna.

[freak111]

Thank you!
It's just a quick source to make for protein, crack open and eat.

Do you think I can get rid of all the sodium by washing it with water?

Assuming you're not hypertensive or a hyper-responder to sodium, I'd wouldn't worry within reasonable intake ranges. However, I would be concerned about mercury concentrations in tuna.

[WonderPug]

Do you think I can get rid of all the sodium by washing it with water?

You can reduce the sodium content, but it's hard to wash canned tuna fish as it kind of washes away

A bit more seriously, how many grams of sodium would you consume per day if you just ate the tuna and chicken straight from the can?

[freak111]

I typically put no salt in my food I don't like it due to high blood pressure naturally (passed genetically). The only seasoning I put in my foods are Black Pepper (which has all 0 calories, fats, carbs, and so forth)

Thus sodium is an issue to me in regards to canned goods.

Thank you WonderPug for helping me out I hope you can explain more on this matter


Rep

You can reduce the sodium content, but it's hard to wash canned tuna fish as it kind of washes away

A bit more seriously, how many grams of sodium would you consume per day if you just ate the tuna and chicken straight from the can?

[WonderPug]

^ Given the above information, I'd suggest getting a fine grain strainer and perhaps lining it with cheese cloth and using that to hold, for example, the tuna while running cold water over the food.

That should dramatically reduce the sodium contant without causing a huge mess.

[freak111]

I also drink 2 - 2.5 gallons of water daily. I Just dont' like salt as well since it bloats me.

^ Given the above information, I'd suggest getting a fine grain strainer and perhaps lining it with cheese cloth and using that to hold, for example, the tuna while running cold water over the food.

That should dramatically reduce the sodium contant without causing a huge mess.

[WonderPug]

I also drink 2 - 2.5 gallons of water daily.

That sound excessive. I doubt you need nearly that much.

[BookMonkey]

I also drink 2 - 2.5 gallons of water daily. I Just dont' like salt as well since it bloats me.

That sound excessive. I doubt you need nearly that much.

Agreed. Drinking extra water to compensate for sodium fears will likely cause problems for potassium intake (as well as other micronutrients). Unless you sweat heavily (like me), then you probably shouldn't be needing that much.

[spopovich]

Drink a lot of water and take a multivitamin. It won't affect you much, especially if you sweat a lot when you work out.

[freak111]

Thanks guys. Yeah Canned Tuna is the best source of protein thats cheap and easy to get in a meal with.

is it okay to go on a competition prep with this?

[AlwaysTryin]

Thanks guys. Yeah Canned Tuna is the best source of protein thats cheap and easy to get in a meal with.

is it okay to go on a competition prep with this?

It's fine

[dustinlima]

However, I would be concerned about mercury concentrations in tuna.

Eh, the concentrations in tuna are quite low compared to other seafoods. And selenium (which tuna is high in) may help to negate the effects.

[Trout_T]

I too am a college student and rely heavily on canned tuna. I eat 4-5 cans a week, not I don't eat nearly as much as you do but I know the feeling.

One suggestion that I do have though is be careful not to eliminate sodium completely from your diet. Yes, almost all foods now adays comes with sodium already in it, but if you are a stickler to your no sodium, then you probably try to prepare everything yourself with no sodium. Just be sure to reach your needed daily sodium levels(and/or drink too much water), otherwise you will get hyponatremia.

Afterall, i'm sure we all remember the incident of the woman in california dying in a water drinking contest.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16614865/ns/us_news-life/

So personally, I don't feel that the sodium levels in the tuna will effect you so much if you are truly as sodium conscious as you sound. So I wouldn't worry about it if I were you because then you'd be turning a simple/easy snack into a more complex one.

or

you could always grab the low-sodium tuna in a bag . its tasty too

p.s. taking this side cause someone needs to

[AustrianOakJr]

I have seen low sodium tuna before.....bumblebee, I think. But I agree with the above poster, you should not go out of your way to avoid sodium....especially if you are eating traditional "bodybuilder" foods. I salt the crap out of everything I eat. I drink plenty of water and let the body sort it out. If you have high blood pressure, i would monitor sodium intake more carefully but i would not avoid it. Monitor your blood pressure too in conjunction with sodium level changes. Heck, if you are going to be cutting to competition lean-ness.......blood pressure will probably not be an issue. I think my blood pressure drops to like zero when I get lean. I know guys who eat salt by the spoonfull just to keep it high enough that they dont pass out when standing up.

[spicyprice]

Trader Joes sells a no sodium added packed in water tongul tuna. From what I read it has a lot less mercury than regular albacore tuna. PLUS, it has a much better texture than chunk tuna.


Considering the role your kidneys play in BP regulation and your family history, you might not want to stress them with 2.5 gallons of water a day. Like pug said, its a little excessive.

[dustinlima]

One suggestion that I do have though is be careful not to eliminate sodium completely from your diet.

This. I was confused at my uncurably dry sinuses/throat despite any amount of water. After looking at all the food I was eating and estimating an intake of about 750mg of sodium I chugged some saltwater--rehydration was instantly noticeable. Nowadays I add in about 3 tsps of salt throughout my meals; this should put me right around 100%DV, but nowhere near the UL. I'm considering adding *more* salt.

[mgotter]

Canned tuna/chicken doesn't even really have that much sodium in it, as stated already for most people sodium intake isn't even a problem. Unless you eat a lot of prepackaged/processed foods you probably aren't really consuming that much anyways.

[freak111]

Why is it that most people don't like salt, or reduce salt intake 1-2 weeks before a competition? They say they drop sodium to make them more conditioned, less bloated. Some say yes that salt bloats them in foods.

Is it dangerous to consume little to no salt? Black pepper and lemon does naturally fine for me.

In regards to water intoxication does anyone know how much water is deadly? So consuming 2.5 - 3 gallons per day can lead to intoxication for me? I typically like to drink a lot of water but hmm...

[AlwaysTryin]

Why is it that most people don't like salt, or reduce salt intake 1-2 weeks before a competition? They say they drop sodium to make them more conditioned, less bloated. Some say yes that salt bloats them in foods.

"They" are old school bodybuilders, most people nowadays don't drop water or limit salt etc.

I suggest you go read Layne's thread - http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...hp?t=115593581

[dEaFTOLiGhT]

Wash the canned chicken under water. I read that rinsing it out removes about 40% of the sodium, if not more.

[digistp]

Nice bump