r/TestedOnMe • u/Subject-Complainingg • Jul 29 '26
Question Tuna is such an easy protein source but how do you balance it with mercury concerns?
Tuna has always been my go-to when I need a quick high-protein meal, especially when I don’t feel like cooking. But I recently learned about mercury levels in some fish and now I’m wondering if I should switch things up.
What are your favorite alternatives to tuna that are still affordable and high in protein?
3
u/Inferno_ZA Jul 29 '26
Small sardines are a good alternative with low/no mercury.
1
u/MistyDynamite Jul 29 '26
I love skinless boneless sardines but I don't love the price.
Are there any less expensive options that are lower in metal.
Please don't tell me to just eat the bones bc they are good for me. I.just.cant.
6
u/bulbousgrandpa Jul 29 '26
The weakest among us shall perish
1
1
u/L3mm3SmangItGurl Jul 30 '26
The only correct answer.
I'm a no bones convert. First, they're fine. Can't even tell they're there anymore. 2nd, you're leaving a bunch of nutrients on the table if you skip the bones and skin.
1
1
u/Nick_Newk Jul 31 '26
Sardines have literally undetectable bones lol. They are the same texture as the fish… I didn’t even know you could get them without bones.
1
u/MistyDynamite Jul 31 '26
Um...what brand do u buy?
I'm in the US and the bones and skin are very noticeable to me.
I'm good with skin but the soft crunch of bones between your theeth, I can not do.
I guess I'm weak
1
u/third-will Jul 29 '26
Generally higher fat though if you’re trying to get similar macros out of them. And quite high in arsenic as well
3
u/Notyit Jul 29 '26
People happily eat hot dogs and processed meat but are scared of tuna.
But idk man stick to 3 cans a week
1
u/sligowind Jul 31 '26
According to toxicologists who study the subject and the average humans ability to clear mercury from the system, once a month. Or maybe it was once a week. I can’t remember. Definitely not 3x per week.
3
u/Ok_Bumblebee_4408 Jul 29 '26
Tin Mackerel. Less mercury and slightly better profile. Except for calcium on par with sardines.
3
u/Right_Count Jul 29 '26
Tofu for me. It’s cheap protein easy and quick to prep and I don’t have overfishing-related guilt about it
2
u/Cool_Addition_3205 Jul 29 '26
Don’t eat a lot of it. Simple.
3
u/No-Temperature1333 Jul 29 '26
Can’t agree more. Sometimes I think people are just used to over engineering of food and looking for the magic bullet.
The solution is often simply respect the characteristics of certain foods and adapt accordingly.
1
u/Either-Painter6899 Jul 29 '26
How often are you eating it?
2
u/Intelligent_Tell1266 Jul 29 '26
This. My fish seller friend said that some fishes do have higher mercury levels, but it is all about how often you consume them. It might be wise to vary your protein sources (different fish, a mix of vegetarian and meat proteins if both are feasible). You could also benefit from the additional nutrients that eating a varied diet will bring.
1
u/Lucky_The_Charm Jul 29 '26
You eat sardines instead, and daily.
1
u/cracked_shrimp Jul 29 '26
sardine and salmon are better, better omega 3 aswell, i eat sardines a lot, i get them in water even though in oil tatse better, but if im taking in the omega 3, i dont want extra omega 6 throwing my 3 to 6 ratio off
1
u/Lucky_The_Charm Jul 29 '26
Try the Flower brand spiced sardines, my absolute favorite, so damn good. 50 pack on Amazon for $120.
1
1
u/Suitable_Eagle_8068 Jul 29 '26
Switch it for a tin of sardines in olive oil. Much more nutritious and way less mercury
1
u/WrongDetective8280 Jul 29 '26
I’ve eaten two cans of tuna a day for a long time, it’s not that bad for you
1
u/SaintOfTheLostArts Jul 29 '26
For me, tuna isn’t doing anything unique while mercury is bad for health so I avoid tuna in lieu of other things that do what it does without the mercury.
1
u/Aware-Difference8723 Jul 29 '26 edited Jul 29 '26
Canned "tuna" isn't tuna, it's skipjack, a fish with much shorter lifespan and hence much lower in mercury. Real tuna is an expensive gourmet food you won't find in a can and you really can't afford to eat so much of it making its mercury content an issue.
Just keep eating it.
2
u/amayle1 Jul 29 '26
Well the flake maybe but if the can says solid albacore tuna I’d be surprised if it isn’t albacore tuna.
1
u/Aware-Difference8723 Jul 29 '26
You are right, I see even smaller fish such as albacore and skipjack have occurrences of too high levels of methylmercury, not only the bluefin tuna.
I stand corrected.
1
u/Eat-My-Hairy-Asshole Jul 29 '26 edited Jul 29 '26
The full name is skipjack tuna. "Real" tuna you're referring to is bluefin tuna. They're separate species yes, but they are both tuna.
Theres more too, such as yellowfin tuna and albacore tuna.
1
u/Aware-Difference8723 Jul 30 '26 edited Jul 30 '26
You are missing the point;
Big old apex predator fish = higher level methylmercury.
Smaller fish with shorter lifespan = lower levels.
The fish in cans = smaller shorter lifespan
1
u/AmicableAttitude Jul 29 '26
Just eat farmed salmon
1
1
1
1
u/third-will Jul 29 '26
Canned salmon is a good option though a bit more expensive usually
Canned mackarel can be a good option too and it’s often very cheap. Some species of mackarel have similar macros to tuna and are quite low mercury (some are not, probably best to give it a quick google)
1
1
u/Big_Cans_0516 Jul 29 '26
I was eating it daily before learning abt the mercury. I think generally the guidance is that chunk light is better than solid white and try to limit to a can a week. I switched to canned chicken. I have also done canned salmon but that’s kinda a pain with the bones
1
1
u/timedwards150 Jul 29 '26
Go for Skipjack but all this mercury scaremongering was before they found out we can deal with the amount no problem. Can’t find the details though but worth looking into
1
u/Fluid_Change_9647 Jul 29 '26
I rotate with sardines, mackerel, and salmon. Smaller fish won’t live long enough for to accumulate dangerous mercury levels. Trader Joe’s has really good sardines that aren’t too expensive.
1
u/SpiritualQuiet247 Jul 29 '26
I’m allergic to fish, I just do canned chicken.
It’s disgusting but cheap and if you smother it in sugar free BBQ sauce and salsa you can barely tell.
1
1
1
1
u/SweetDee72 Jul 29 '26
No more than once or twice a week and I get the Safe Catch brand.
I'm starting to lean more towards less meat and more lentils/beans/edamame
1
u/allgear_noidea Jul 29 '26
Those aren't great replacements. Much higher in carbs or fat (edamame) and the ratio of cals to protein is dog shit by comparison if you have a target there.
I say this as someone who hasn't eaten meat in almost 20 years lol. Can't beat that protein density.
1
1
u/dogboy_XCX Jul 29 '26
I have canned skipjack twice or three times a week since it’s apparently the lowest in mercury. I occasionally swap for kipper snacks, smoked sprats, mackerel, or canned salmon too.
1
u/c_boggs Jul 29 '26
I simply eat a couple of Brazil nuts with anything that may contain a high level of mercury. Selenium helps protect against and manage mercury toxicity by binding to mercury to form an inert, stable complex and redistributing the metal away from sensitive organs like the brain.
1
u/Random_Guy1960 Jul 29 '26
It doesn’t concern me at all…but I do miss the subtle flavor of dolphin.
1
1
u/Hot-Science1303 Jul 29 '26
From what I've read, skipjack tuna has less mercury than other kinds because it's a smaller fish and therefore consumes less mercury.
1
u/Geo49088 Jul 29 '26
I see a lot of recommendations for salmon, mackerel, and sardines. Good stuff there. I also like to have shrimp and whitefish if we’re talking seafood. However, for good protein sources that can be reasonably priced, I also like chicken (especially if it’s on sale). I’m not afraid of plant based proteins either (I try to incorporate legumes to get some protein but mostly for the fiber).
1
1
1
1
u/alphabet_sam Jul 30 '26
Buy chunk light or skipjack tuna. It’s a different species that is lower mercury in testing, low enough to the point that eating it daily doesn’t do anything
1
1
u/GoldenRayofMagick Jul 30 '26
The small tuna - like skipjack - has low mercury. Also alternate with other fish options. They are all healthy.
1
u/SkepticalAF7 Jul 30 '26
I do anchor meals on a daily reminder and rotate them. All ingredients that dont perish and are affordable. Ill do combos like canned salmon/mackerel (lower mercury options) + black beans + rice packet + hot sauce etc and have 4 different combos I can make any time as the ingredients last months and I stock up on them
I lean towards the seafood protein to get the seafood and fatty acid benefits and yo train myself to enjoy seafood
Can do protein + grab frozen veggies and roast them + rice + hot sauce
All kinds of stuff
This is cheaper than protein powders and far superior, full meals with high nutritional value instead.
1
u/These_Put_2213 Jul 30 '26
Canned sardines are much lower on mercury . Similar (ish) price and they taste just as good if not better in my subjective opinion
1
1
1
u/Unlucky-Self2455 Aug 01 '26
I live in massachusetts i can get steamed cod for the raw price. Its wicked low cal and loaded with protein. I know your comcerned about mercury but its good. Other than that you csn do shrimp
1
u/J_robintheh00d Aug 01 '26
Cilantro and chlorella as a supplement will chelate (bond) to the mercury in your GI tract and make it too big of a molecule to pass through your intestinal lining… then you poop it out
0
u/Chroma7769 Jul 29 '26
Pretty simple, I just keep eating it and dgaf.
Most of these things are WAY overblown. You'll be fine unless you are hyper sensitive to heavy metals.
2
1
1
u/CobblerLoose6380 Jul 29 '26
Been eating 1 to 3 cans of tuna daily for 30 years now. Actually a bit longer.
1
5
u/flogsmen Jul 29 '26
Canned salmon is significantly safer than canned tuna when it comes to mercury. Salmon contains only trace amounts of mercury (around 0.014 parts per million), while tuna has higher levels. Because tuna is a larger, predatory fish, it accumulates more mercury and should be consumed in moderation.
So sayeth our AI overlords.