Myths You Must Know About Tuna
Posted on December 26, 2009
Filed Under Natural therapy | Leave a Comment
There’s just something about tuna that screams, health food. Maybe it is this fish’s popularity with otherwise vegetarian eaters, or maybe it;s the fact that it goes so well with wheat bread, cheese and lettuce, but tuna has a great reputation.
Furthermore, in the past few years, the American Heart Association has recommended that adults eat at least two servings of fatty fish like tuna each week in order to promote cardiovascular health. This has done wonders for tuna’s reputation.
Unfortunately, tuna just is not quite as great as it’s cracked up to be, and if you are the parent of a young child, it is particularly important that you understand what the ramifications of regularly consuming large amounts of tuna can be.
Tuna Myth #1: You can’t eat too much tuna.
In reality, while tuna is a very healthy food in moderation, it does contain trace amounts of heavy metals and other toxins. This is because most commercial tuna grow in waters that contain traces of mercury at the very least. The FDA has determined that small amounts of mercury are allowable in commercially sold tuna, so when you eat tuna you are eating trace amounts of mercury in many cases. While this may be okay for your health in moderation, these contaminants can build up in your system over time and cause health complications if you do not moderate your tuna intake.
Tuna Myth #2: Tuna is the only fish that contains enough omega 3 fatty acid.
Many people think that eating tuna is the only way to get enough omega 3 fatty acid, an essential nutrient that your body needs to survive but cannot make on its own. In fact, in order to get the appropriate amount of omega that you would need to get dramatic cardiovascular results and memory enhancement, you would have to eat pounds of tuna every day.
It is far easier and far healthier to simply take an omega 3 fish oil supplement each day rather than try to eat the massive amounts of tuna necessary to get omega 3 benefits.
Tuna Myth #3: Though you shouldn’t eat too much tuna while you are pregnant, young children can have as much tuna as they like.
If you have children, you’re probably aware that women are discouraged from eating tuna while they are pregnant because the mercury and other contaminants legally allowed to be in the fish can harm the baby.
However, most parents do allow their young children to eat tuna for the health benefits associated with omega 3. Unfortunately, too much tuna can have negative health ramifications for children much sooner than it can have for adults because their bodies are smaller.
If you wish to help your child’s health with omega 3, it is far safer and more effective to give them a supplement rather than to feed them tuna daily.
While tuna is not an inherently bad fish, like most things, it must be consumed in moderation. If you’re concerned about omega 3, then consider a daily supplement like Salmon Oil.
This supplement is made from salmon, which eliminates the issues with contamination that you have to factor in with tuna. The supplement is also refined to prevent fishy bodily odor and belching, two unpleasant side effects of frequent fish consumption.
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