Fish Oil Fast Fact #181: Taking a Second Look at Tuna

The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends on its official website that anyone concerned about their heart health consume at least two servings a week of fatty fish like “mackerel, lake trout, herring, sardines, albacore tuna and salmon” (www.americanheart.org). Of these fish, tuna is by far the most conventional and, in most regions, inexpensive option on this menu. However, while at first downing a couple hearty servings of tuna a week seems like a pretty good way to improve your heart health and not damage the budget, this recommendation deserves a second look. First of all, while the AHA recommends 2 servings a week, many studies indicate that you might need to consume as much as two pounds of fatty fish a day in order to get the requisite amount of omega 3, an essential fatty acid, necessary to protect your heart and other aspects of your health. This much tuna – in any form – could be a health threat since often tuna contains traces of mercury, other heavy metals and contaminants. Instead of gorging on tuna, consider a safe, toxin-free omega 3 supplement made from pure, omega 3-rich salmon oil to give your heart and your health in general the boost you need.

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