Health - Wellness
When You Eat Tuna Every Day, This Is What Happens
By ANNE TAYLOR
Tuna is an affordable seafood option, and a popular ingredient in preparations including sushi, casseroles, and sandwiches. This fish is high in protein, low in fat, packed with iron, vitamin B12, vitamin B6, potassium, selenium, iodine, and omega-3 fatty acids — but here's why you need to be careful about tuna consumption.
Mercury is an element that can be found in all seafood, usually in trace amounts. However, consuming too much of this metal can cause poisoning, resulting in irritability, memory issues, anxiety, depression, lack of coordination, muscle weakness, vision changes, and hearing and speech problems.
Large fish such as tuna tend to absorb a lot of mercury before being caught and sold to consumers, and different tuna varieties carry different risks; a 2017 study found that yellowfin tuna can carry up to 36 times more pollutants than other kinds. However, this doesn't mean you have to completely give up on tuna.
Albacore and skipjack tuna are good alternatives to yellowfin, with a similar flavor and texture but less pollutants. Canned tuna generally has low mercury content, so it is safe to eat once or twice daily, and when enjoying raw tuna, make sure it is well-prepared to prevent yourself from consuming bacteria and parasites.