When it is determined that you are going through the stage of pregnancy, it is common for many women to worry about the general care that provides the correct development of the fetus. Diet is one of the main factors that are changed, excluding from the usual diet those that are unhealthy and increasing those that offer the best benefits.
Despite being important sources of various nutrients, fish are usually eaten with fear or are not included in the diet during pregnancy, even in a more significant proportion than other foods. There are certain doubts about which fish can do wrong. On this occasion, FastlyHealwill provides you with information to clear one of the most systematic uncertainties, can I eat tuna in pregnancy?
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Benefits of eating tuna
It is well known that tuna is a rich source of nutrients, mainly of:
- Omega-3 fatty acids
- Protein
- Minerals like magnesium and selenium
- Vitamins E
- Vitamin B complex
However, to acquire the most significant amount of these, it is advisable to consume said fish fresh, for example, grilled or steamed. Some components are lost, or their quantity decreases when going through the canning process.
This nutritional content provides a series of properties and benefits of tuna, of which the following stand out:
- Prevents cardiovascular diseases.
- Improves blood circulation.
- Maintains the proper functioning of the brain.
- Eliminates toxic substances found in the body.
- Strengthens the immune system.
- Stimulates cell development.
- Provides the health of muscle tissue.
- It balances the level of high-density lipoprotein, known as HDL or good cholesterol.
- It prevents degenerative diseases.
- Improves inflammatory disorders.
Is it wrong to eat tuna if I am pregnant?
Tuna provides many benefits to the body when ingested, which makes it a highly recommended food to stay healthy. However, it is not uncommon to know that you are going through pregnancy to think about restricting its consumption by the various negative opinions that are had about this fish, both fresh and canned.
For this reason, the question of many women, especially new ones, is, can I eat tuna in pregnancy? The answer is yes, as long as conditions are followed. It is recommended that future moms consume no more than 340 grams of fish per week to acquire the vital source of protein and other nutrients necessary for the proper development of the fetus.
It is attributed that it is dangerous to eat tuna during pregnancy because these fish accumulate considerable amounts of heavy metals, particularly mercury. When consuming their meat, it enters the body and is very harmful. The proportion of accumulated mercury depends on the size of the fish; if it is vast, the level of mercury is likely high, while in a smaller size, they usually contain low values and are safe for consumption.
Following this relationship, although it has been indicated that it is possible to eat tuna during pregnancy, not all types of fish in this group are recommended; only those of smaller size are recommended, the healthiest being the albacore or white tuna and the yellowfin tuna or light tuna. However, this does not mean that they are free of heavy metals, but following the specialist’s recommendations in the weekly dose does not lead to problems, and its nutrients can be correctly acquired.
Food regulatory agencies have determined that during pregnancy, it is safe to eat two servings of tuna per week; that is, it does not represent a risk to the future mother or the fetus’s development. However, within the recommended tuna, you can eat up to 6 ounces of albacore tuna per week and 12 ounces if it is yellowfin tuna, as long as it is authorized by the doctor in charge of pregnancy control. You can also opt for canned light tuna since it discards almost half of the mercury these fish accumulate.
On the other hand, eating canned tuna during pregnancy could be restricted if you suffer from fluid retention or high blood pressure. These products contain a high amount of sodium, the excess of which can worsen these conditions. Likewise, if fresh tuna is consumed, it must be perfectly cooked to prevent pathogens that endanger the mother or baby’s life from entering the body.
Fish is recommended during pregnancy.
During pregnancy, it is best to eat small fish that do not accumulate harmful amounts of heavy metals. Consuming raw fish, whatever it is, constitutes a latent risk of poisoning or infection by bacteria or parasites. The same happens with smoked, pickled, marinated, or salted preparations. As long as they are well cooked, the fish that pregnant women can eat are:
- Salmon.
- Sardines
- Herrings
- Boquerón.
- Salmone.
- Mackerel.
- Sea trout.
- Hake.
- Sole.
- Fresh cod.
- Eel.
- Whiting.
Fish to avoid in pregnancy
Large fish that move in the open sea tend to accumulate more heavy metals, which represents a high risk of toxicity if consumed in oversized proportions and can lead to alterations in the body, especially in women. Who are pregnant, as it can affect the neural development of the baby. Therefore, unless the specialist indicates otherwise, it is recommended to eat in small quantities or avoid the following fish :
- Bluefin tuna, also known as bluefin tuna or common tuna.
- Shark.
- Swordfish.
- King mackerel.
- Mere.
- Needle.
This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Can I eat tuna in pregnancy? We recommend that you enter our Pregnancy and baby health category .
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.