I eat about 1 can every day or other day, I LOVE tunafish. However my friend told me that you should only have 1 can per week because of “mercury poisoning”. Is this true and am I truely at risk by eating the delicious tunafish?
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/english/protection/warnings/2001/2001_60e.htm
OTOH…
http://www.enn.com/enn-news-archive/2001/01/01152001/mercury_41312.asp
http://www.mindfully.org/Food/Tuna-Cut-Back.htm
So yes, there is mercury in tuna. Are you under 6, or pregnant? 
Me, I’d probably cut back. You should eat a varied diet anyhow.
First of all, Rye, it’s “tuna”. You don’t really have to specify the fish part. People will not think you are talking about tuna horse or tuna pork.
Second of all, too much of anything is bad for you. Too much water can be bad for you.
Third of all, mercury that you ingest (in tuna, for example) tends to stay in your body. If you eat your weight in tuna, then your body accumulates roughly the same mercury concentration as the tuna. If, over a few months, you eat three times your weight in tuna, that’s of course triple the concentration. If, over the years, you eat a hundred times your weight in tuna, that’s about a hundred times the mercury that the tuna have to deal with. I’m just pulling numbers out of the air here, but this is the gist of biological amplification. It’s essentially WHY too much tuna is bad for you (see above).
Heh, I was going to say that. It’s a Canadian joke to what we see as a funny Americanism.
The worst thing you can eat is sharkfin soup. Very high in mercury.
I’ve been on a tuna diet for about 3 months!
I eat plain tuna everyday for lunch. To me, it’s the best way I know of to get that much protein with that few calories, in a convenient package for little money.
Argh. The next hi protein low cost option is soy, but I know the fish nutrients beyond protein are good for me.
bastards! 
Is this some sort of new thng? Some guy my husband works with is reportedly on a diet to lose weight that consists of nothing but tuna, bananas, and egg whites. Sounds revolting to me–no wonder you lose weight.
“Second of all, too much of anything is bad for you. Too much water can be bad for you.” - Max
Excuse me, but this is rather backward logic. What makes something “too much” is the fact that it is, indeed, bad for you. Yes, too much of anything can be bad for you - by definition of “too much.” The question wasn’t if too much tuna is bad for you. If that were the question, then the answer would be in the question. His question was really, how much IS too much.
Nope - not ‘new’ or fad per se.
I eat balanced controlled portions all day. About 1800 calories for a 5’ 10" male who weighs 185, down 40 lbs from 3 months ago.
Balnced: Fruits/Veggie/fat/protein/fiber/etc.
Protein is difficult to come by when eating a well balanced intake of food. I try to use lunch time to focus on getting protein in my system, sans fat. Protein is available quite readily(goodnews)…usually accompanied by fat and cholestoral (bad news)…
I’m crazy though, because I’ll eat broiled skinless chicken for weeks as part of getting a low fat protein source…or lots of tuna…for months.
In any event, I am eating more tuna than most…
… so, I’ma gonna tuna in for disa answer.
…or itsa soya-burgers fora me-a.
I’m Italian - I can get away with the accent.
Tuna sandwiches are a staple of my diet and will stay that way, mercury be darned!
As a tuna (fish, not pork) conneseur, I’d strongly recommend 2 (local?) brands which far exceed the quality and flavor of the national brand “cat food” Starkist & Bumble Bee try to pass off as solid white.
If you can find them they are
[ul][li]“Master’s Choice line caught in olive oil” available at Waldbaums (who just bought out A&P)[/li]“Geisha” available at Pathmark[/ul]
Of course, line caught or not, mercury risks are still there.
In this area “Cento” brand packed in olive oil is one kick-ass can o’ tuna.
From Doctor Tobacco :
Stephen: What’s cholesterol?
Hugh: It’s … well, you know -
Stephen: Yes I know perfectly well what it is, but I don’t suppose you’d so much as heard of it until a few years ago. You’d die without the stuff.
Hugh: Yes but too much is bad for you.
Stephen: Well of course too much is bad for you, that’s what “too much” means you blithering twat. If you had too much water it would be bad for you, wouldn’t it? “Too much” precisely means that quantity which is excessive, that’s what it means. Could you ever say “too much water is good for you”? I mean if it’s too much it’s too much. Too much of anything is too much. Obviously. Jesus.
Dammit sailor, I was going to do that!
Tuna is high in protein, however it isnt the best balanced protein you can eat. There are certain amino acids it is low in. I wouldnt advise eating loads of tuna every day. Balance it with other meats.
Mangetout - I DID do that, but no where near as poetically.
Do not eat Chicken of the Sea tuna! Experts have revealed that the company, faced with an inability to catch sufficient free-range tuna, has begun using genetically-engineered fish to increase profit margins. These artificailly enhanced tuna have normal head and tail sections, but an unusually extended middle. Kept in 200-foot long tanks, these mutants grow to the length of their containers in only three months. With only vestigial fins, the beasts are unable to swim. They lay in their coffin-like enclosures, feeding intravenously, much like certain urban lawyers. Something must be done!! I’m sure this is true, because my brother-in-law’s cousin Tony told me so, and he used to work for a guy who went fishing sometimes.
Er, sorry. That just came out. Maybe I should take a break from email for a couple of days…
I mix in red meat and/or some dairy to provide a good amino cross section. They provide the aminos my body cannot manufacture on it’s own.
Tuna is an excellent source of protein otherwise. Other meats are higher in fat and cholesterol.