Tuna and Mercury levels (REPS)

[Buildandrun]

Hey guys, I recently got somewhat of an addiction to tuna... i LOVE it.

I've been eating like 3 cans a day (6 oz.. white albacore)

My mom says that it has way too much mercury in it and that eating that much isn't healthy.

Is this true?

[ee33ee]

Recommended amount is no more than 2 cans a week

Now you can probably get away with more than that, but 3 a day is way too much

Also, albacore tuna is the kind that has the MOST mercury, so thats even worse than light tuna

http://www.mercurypolicy.org/new/doc...inal012604.pdf

“A woman who eats an average 6 oz. can of albacore in a day would exceed the EPA’s
‘safe’ level for mercury exposure by over ten-fold; a woman eating a can in the top five
percent would consume more than 30-times more mercury than EPA considers safe,” said
Michael Bender of the Mercury Policy Project."

albacore tuna has 3 times the mercury level as light tuna

[Fon7ana]

i eat like 1-2 a day.. how bad can it be?

[fpjesuits55]

like 1 can a day..unless ur pregnant..lol...u dont want retarded babies lol

[echoareone]

How can you just disregard these guidelines? Sure, the FDA is dumb as **** when it comes to how much protein we need, but this is different. There is some "wiggle room" in protein intake. There isn't much for mercury levels. Just 'cause we're "bodybuilders" (or something like it) doesn't mean that we can automatically disregard ANY health suggestions/information.

Chunk light tuna has lower mercury, and it also has less fat, for what that's worth.

[ee33ee]

Originally Posted by echoareone

How can you just disregard these guidelines? Sure, the FDA is dumb as **** when it comes to how much protein we need, but this is different. There is some "wiggle room" in protein intake. There isn't much for mercury levels. Just 'cause we're "bodybuilders" (or something like it) doesn't mean that we can automatically disregard ANY health suggestions/information.

Chunk light tuna has lower mercury, and it also has less fat, for what that's worth.

Finally someone with a brain!

I hate hearing people say "oh i eat xx cans a day, and im fine, so it must be okay", "their recommendations are for pregnant women, but im bodybuilder so i can eat 10x the recommended amount"

[Atheimetal]

Originally Posted by ee33ee

Finally someone with a brain!

I hate hearing people say "oh i eat xx cans a day, and im fine, so it must be okay", "their recommendations are for pregnant women, but im bodybuilder so i can eat 10x the recommended amount"

Or even better, "Well I feel okay now so I can keep doing it because obviously there are no negative repercussions of this!"

[TheAnimal_013]

Waiiiit hoold up...a can a week? Well i guess i should start writing my will then lol.

[Fon7ana]

i think a can a day is ok...

[Kings22]

why hasnt any1 said the negative side effects of mercury in general?...

[echoareone]

I heard muscletech is coming out with Merckick, a new anabolic supplement scientifically proven to increase your strength by 37% after your first dose!

[TheAnimal_013]

Originally Posted by echoareone

I heard muscletech is coming out with Merckick, a new anabolic supplement scientifically proven to increase your strength by 37% after your first dose!

Sounds too good to be true. Whatever the case I want it if its creatine free.

[ee33ee]

Originally Posted by Fon7ana

i think a can a day is ok...

http://www.ewg.org/issues/mercury/20...calculator.php

For my weight, the limit is 2.5 cans of light tuna a WEEK and 0.75 cans of albacore tuna a WEEK

And thats if you're not eating any other seafood

[Fon7ana]

wow this is going to be a setback in protein source :-/

[echoareone]

So I guess the question now is, does anyone know of a readily available, cheap, canned, fishy protein source? Man...I usually get ~5 cans a week. That kinda bums me out.

[Fon7ana]

Originally Posted by echoareone

So I guess the question now is, does anyone know of a readily available, cheap, canned, fishy protein source? Man...I usually get ~5 cans a week. That kinda bums me out.

reword that i cant figure out what u are saying

[Kings22]

does it matter how old u r, like is it more dangerous for a lil kid then a teen? cuz i use to eat tuna religiously as a lil kid

[ee33ee]

Originally Posted by echoareone

So I guess the question now is, does anyone know of a readily available, cheap, canned, fishy protein source? Man...I usually get ~5 cans a week. That kinda bums me out.

You could probably trim it down a little and be fine (government guidelines do have to be well under dangerous levels)

But all fish have mercury and light tuna is actually at the lower end of the spectrum (generally the smaller the fish, the less mercury concentration)

A good substitute is canned chicken breast (from sam's club), you can buy them in bulk

[echoareone]

Yeah, i actually have a few big cans of chicken breast in my food drawer right now...guess I might have to start subbing that in a bit more. Sorry about the confusingness of my previous post.

[Fon7ana]

canned chicken breast has just as much protein which is great but damn it tastes like rubber.

[echoareone]

Yeh...my pre-bed meal last year (when I was at home) was 5 egg whites, a scoop of cottage cheese and some canned chicken, all made up into some scrambled eggs...add some hot sauce? Ahhh yeah.
But if I eat the chicken plain, I either need barbecue sauce, or cc+pepper.

[Fon7ana]

yea i use mayo with tuna sometimes which is really NOT a good thing..

[Kings22]

Originally Posted by Fon7ana

yea i use mayo with tuna sometimes which is really NOT a good thing..

why? thats the only way to eat it!

[Fon7ana]

mayo is nothing but fat man.. and i dont think its the good essential-fatty-acid kinda fat either man..

[Nautikal]

What about salmon? Definitly more expensive and takes longer to prepare though. At least it tastes 4000 times better.

[Kings22]

Originally Posted by Fon7ana

mayo is nothing but fat man.. and i dont think its the good essential-fatty-acid kinda fat either man..

wut rong with fat if you have fast metabolism?

[Nautikal]

Originally Posted by Anoby

wut rong with fat if you have fast metabolism?

You want most of your calories to be nutritional, so protein, complex carbs, and good fats instead of sugars and saturated fats.

[Buildandrun]

So should i switched to canned chicken breast instead of tuna?

[HuGe.AmBiTioNs.]

I would have a bit of both..3 cans a day seem a bit much but I should think 1 can of light tuna a day shouldn't be bad for you

[ani[i]al]

Prawns are fairly cheap and have a descent amount of protein. Easy to put in a sandwich with mayo, And can be eaten alot quicker than tuna.

Personaly i eat a can of tuna a day. I, myself think thats allright.