Although eating canned tuna regularly offers rapid weight loss, it is not a sustainable long-term solution. In fact, it poses several risks, including slow metabolism, loss of muscle mass, and mercury poisoning.
For long-lasting results, the best option is to follow a balanced meal plan with enough calories to meet our needs. However, other sources say that we would need to eat at least three cans of tuna a day for 6 months to risk mercury toxicity. So how many cans can we eat in a week? And to the day?
Two or three times a week
Tuna is incredibly nutritious and packed with protein, healthy fats, and vitamins, but it shouldn’t be eaten every day. Experts recommend that adults eat 85 to 140 grams of fish two to three times a week to get enough Omega-3 fatty acids and other beneficial nutrients.
The lethal dose of mercury is about 50 mg per kilogram of body weight. Let’s say that for a person of 70 kilos it would be about 3.5 grams. Typical levels of concern are around 0.5 parts per million. That is, one gram per million grams (one ton) of tuna.
According to experts, adults can eat three cans of chunky light tuna a week. However, if we are expecting a baby or are pregnant, we should eat no more than four cans of tuna per week or no more than two tuna fillets per week. This is because tuna contains higher levels of mercury than other fish. If we are breastfeeding, there is no limit set on the amount of tuna we can eat.
Logically, you also have to choose the best type, which is natural tuna or in olive oil.
One or two cans for children
Feeding cans of tuna to children is low in protein and beneficial for growth and development. Experts recommend serving fish to children once or twice a week, using a variety of fish. But it’s important to get the serving size right for your child’s age and total calorie needs.
On average, a serving size for children, ages 2 to 3, should be about 28 grams; for children 4 to 7 years old the recommendation is 56 grams; for children 8 to 10 years old, one serving is 85 grams; and for those over 11 years old, it is 113 grams. Taking into account that a can of tuna is 185 grams, special care must be taken with consumption in children.
