What is canned tuna?
Tuna in oil or brine or canned is usually prepared with the albacares tuna or "yellowfin tuna", a saltwater fish belonging to the genus Thunnus and Scombridae family. Canned tuna usually is prepared using muscle and fragments of fish, which after being caught is cleaned, cooked in water, drained, canned with the addition of oil and finally sterilized. The yellowfin tuna is found in almost all warm seas of the planet, especially in the South Atlantic in the western Pacific, in the Caribbean, Indian Ocean and along the Atlantic Portuguese coast.
What are the nutritional properties of the canned tuna?
100g of tuna in oil, drained provides 192 calories broken down as follows:
- 53% protein
- 47% lipids
In particular, 100 grams of canned drained tuna contains:
- 62.3 g of water
- 25.2 g of protein
- 8.1 g of lipids
- 65 mg cholesterol
Among vitamins and minerals , 100g of drained tuna in oil contains:
- 0.04 mg of thiamine
- 0.11 mg of riboflavin
- 10.4 mg of niacin
- 14 micrograms of vitamin A (retinol equivalent)
- 316 mg of sodium
- 301 mg of potassium
- 1.7 mg of iron
- 7 mg of calcium
- 205 mg of phosphorus
When you should not eat canned tuna?
The consumption of canned tuna is not recommended for people taking anti-tuberculosis medication because it contains histamine which can cause cardiovascular and hypertensive episodes.
Possible benefits and drawbacks of canned tuna
Canned tuna is a cheap source of omega 3 fatty acids. These substances help prevent cardiovascular disease and to control triglycerides and blood pressure. Omega-3s also have beneficial effects on memory and mood. Tuna contains high amounts of phosphorus, which promotes the proper development of bones and teeth. This fish also has a high content of potassium, which helps prevent hypertension.
The consumption of this food is not recommended for those suffering from tuna allergies, although canned tuna should be less allergenic than fresh fish. In general, tuna, being a large predator, is more likely to contain mercury: it is therefore not advisable to consume excessive amounts.
