Tag Archives: Tuna

This Creamy Tuna Casserole recipe is a delicious, low-fat and filling lunch or dinner.

This Tuna Spinach and Bean Salad is a perfect dish to serve at lunch or light dinner, also great when you are watching your weight because it is low in fat but rich in protein and fibre.

This Tuna Avocado Dill Wraps recipe is a super fast, easy, and healthy meal on the go.

I am a firm believer in eating everything in moderation.  For every dietary plan that I supply to my clients, there will always be a mix of:

Vegetables
Various meats/fish
Fruits
Grains
Nuts (whether whole or in LSA)
etc.

Restricting yourself to a particular food may have side effects because you may be restricting yourself from a particular nutrient.  Many bodybuilders and fitness fanatics do this in a very unhealthy manner which can lead to long-term health complications.  For example, eating only banana's as fruit.  Whilst they are a great source of potassium, they are quite low in other nutrients and could easily contribute to a nutrient deficit.

Conversely, eating too much of a particular food could have side effects too.  A common example is consuming too many carrots.  A high intake of beta-carotene could actually make your skin turn orange.

In your case, a high intake of tuna could potentially have side effects.  Tuna has a reputation for being relatively high in mercury relative to other foods.  It's not dangerously high (otherwise it wouldn't sold in supermarkets), but a significant and regular intake could have a cumulative effect on mercury levels.

Whilst your body can metabolise mercury, it is a slow process.  So, ingesting substantial amounts of mercury could lead to a mercury build-up over time.
As a first resort, I would suggest to see your doctor and to test for mercury levels if this is a concern of yours.

One course of action may be to avoid the seafood for the time being.  Instead, consume meats.  Mix up the meats - chicken breast, lean beef, turkey, low-fat ham etc.  Don't eat chicken breast exclusively either, other meats contain minerals that are required for normal functioning.  For example, turkey is rich in selenium, a good antioxidant and responsible for healthy skin, nails and hair.  Beef is rich in iron, responsible for energy and normal functioning.  A little seafood here and there may be healthy, but do not eat it exclusively.