This type of tuna is full of mercury – here’s the one. “Caution”

Fish is one of the few highly recommended foods, at any age and regardless of the diseases you suffer from, for its high protein content as well as its high content of omega-3 fatty acids. Despite this, all that glitters is not gold, because unfortunately not all fish that end up on our tables are always safe. Intensive fishing, pollution of the sea (caused by microplastics), excessive use of drugs and pesticides in aquaculture practices are all factors that negatively affect the deterioration of the quality of the fish we consume.

One of the biggest consumer concerns is mercury. The latter is the heavy metal par excellence and can even cause serious damage to our health. Let’s see exactly what it is. Methylmercury contamination represents the most toxic form of fish poisoning for humans, as it is assimilated almost exclusively through the consumption of fish products. The fish of our Mediterranean Sea are particularly contaminated by this substance, and unfortunately Italy is the first European country contaminated by mercury.

Methylmercury enters our body, accumulates precisely in red blood cells and therefore easily enters the bloodstream; it also represents a serious problem for pregnant or breastfeeding women because, thanks to its high assimilability by the body, it penetrates the placenta and reaches the mammary glands, thus contaminating the milk. Long-term exposure of the fetus to methylmercury, according to some studies, leads to reduced neurological development in the child.

It is advisable to avoid frequent consumption of large fish and carnivores (such as swordfish, spiny dogfish, etc.). This toxic substance accumulates in fact in predators who absorb it not only from the water but also due to the ingestion of Many people prefer to consume canned tuna to consume their weekly ration of fish because it is much easier and faster and provides the same proteins and fatty acids as a normal meal based on of fish.

However, this does not always turn out to be a wise choice, as canned tuna is often the most common source of mercury for our bodies, in fact this fish contains much more mercury than other types of fish (like salmon, lobster or oyster) . In addition, depending on the species, different concentrations of mercury have been observed. However, let’s not forget that canned tuna, in addition to containing a large amount of mercury, is also an unsustainable choice from an environmental point of view, since unfortunately today it is an animal Endangered.