Tuna (2024)

FAQs

How much tuna is enough? ›

How Often Should You Eat Tuna? Tuna is incredibly nutritious and packed with protein, healthy fats and vitamins — but it should not be consumed every day. The FDA recommends that adults eat 3–5 ounces (85–140 grams) of fish 2–3 times a week to get enough omega-3 fatty acids and other beneficial nutrients ( 10 ).

Even eating only light tuna, a 150-pound (68-kg) person would take in 68 mcg of mercury daily — 10 times the recommended amount. Mercury poisoning is associated with severe damage to your heart, kidneys, immune system, and nervous system ( 13 ).

4–7 cans of tuna is definitely enough to cause mercury poisoning. The daily recommended mercury intake is . 1 micrograms for each kilogram of body weight. This means that the average person should consume less than 8 micrograms of mercury each day.

Canned tuna typically contains either albacore or skipjack tuna, and cans are usually marked as either “albacore” or “chunk light.” Albacore tuna typically has higher concentrations of mercury than chunk light tuna and should be eaten only once or twice a week. Chunk light tuna is safe to eat two or three times a week.

People should limit their intake of canned tuna made from albacore to one 4-ounce (113-gram) serving per week. This is because it is higher in mercury ( 19 ).

Those aged 4-7 can safely have four ounces, children 8-10 can have six ounces, and those 11 and up can have up to eight ounces. Pregnant people (or those that may become pregnant) and anyone breastfeeding can safely consume two to three servings of canned light tuna per week.

Canned tuna is healthy: all types of tuna are high in protein and feature omega-3 fatty acids, yet lower in saturated fat and calories. However, albacore does have slightly more fat and calories than light tuna such as skipjack or yellowfin—which means it has more omega-3 fatty acids.

The FDA recommends consuming fish lower in mercury. For tuna varieties, skipjack earns the Best Choice label from the FDA, while yellowfin and albacore receive the Good Choice label. The FDA suggests avoiding bigeye tuna, which has the highest levels of mercury.

Canned light tuna is in the “Best Choices” category and it is fine to eat 2 to 3 servings per week. We recommend that you eat a variety of fish. You may wish to try other affordable fish in the “Best Choices” category such as canned salmon or sardines, frozen fish, or fresh fish that are at a reduced price. 3.

How much is too much tuna? ›

Like most foods, it's okay to eat tuna in moderation. “According to the FDA, the average adult can safely eat about six to nine ounces of tuna per week,” says Dr. O'Neill. “That typically works out to one to two cans, depending on the size.”

According to the FDA, canned light tuna, made primarily from skipjack, is recognized as a fish with low mercury levels and is designated as a "best choice." A serving is typically 4 ounces for adults, per the FDA. The FDA recommends eating two to three servings a week, or about 8 to 12 ounces.

Tuna is a healthy food. But when folks make tuna salad, they tend to go overboard on the mayo adding tons of extra calories and fat. One cup of mayo has a whopping 1440 calories, 160 grams fat, and 24 grams saturated fat. It'll also tack on almost 50 percent of your daily recommended amount of sodium.

When you eat fish containing mercury, you can also take in the mercury. The metal builds up in your bloodstream over time. It slowly leaves the body through urine, stool, and breast milk. For most people, eating a small amount of fish high in mercury isn't a health concern.

Tuna, being rich in various nutrients, may be particularly appealing to those with underlying deficiencies. For example, cravings for salty foods like tuna may indicate a deficiency in sodium or electrolytes. Our bodies need these minerals to maintain proper fluid balance and nerve function.

Canned white, or albacore (0.32 parts per million of mercury). Children under six can eat up to one 3-ounce portion a month; children from 6-12, two 4.5-ounce portions a month. Adults, including pregnant women, can safely eat this kind of tuna up to three times a month (women, 6-ounce portions; men, 8-ounce portions).

According to the FDA, canned light tuna, made primarily from skipjack, is recognized as a fish with low mercury levels and is designated as a "best choice." A serving is typically 4 ounces for adults, per the FDA. The FDA recommends eating two to three servings a week, or about 8 to 12 ounces.

Other adults should aim for 8 to 12 ounces per week of fish relatively low in mercury. That could include up to three servings of light or skipjack tuna, or a combination of those tunas and other low-mercury fish listed above.

You should be able to eat small amounts of canned tuna every day without issue, but Medical News Today recommends waiting three to seven days between eating tuna based on your body weight.