Tuna is an excellent source of high-quality protein, iron, and vitamin B12. It’s also low in mercury and other contaminants that might concern expectant mothers. As such, it’s not uncommon for pregnant women to wonder whether they can eat tuna while pregnant or not. In general, most experts recommend that pregnant women avoid eating raw fish because of the potential presence of parasites or bacteria like salmonella. Additionally, some research indicates that methylmercury found in some fish may pose a risk to developing fetuses. However, tuna is not a risky type of fish and doesn’t have high concentrations of mercury like other large predatory fish such as swordfish or shark. In fact, tuna has about one-third the amount of mercury found in chicken and slightly less than cod or salmon per serving size. Depending on how you prepare it, you can make tuna safe to eat even when you’re pregnant. Keep reading to learn more…
Why is tuna safe to eat while pregnant?
Tuna is an excellent source of high-quality protein, iron, and vitamin B12. It’s low in mercury and other contaminants that might concern expectant mothers. As such, it’s not uncommon for pregnant women to wonder whether they can eat tuna while pregnant or not. Research indicates that large predatory fish like tuna, swordfish, or shark have lower concentrations of methylmercury than small fish like salmon. This means that even though most types of fish contain methylmercury, it’s in small enough concentrations to not pose a significant risk to developing fetuses. Additionally, tuna has about one-third the amount of mercury found in chicken and slightly less than cod or salmon per serving size. Depending on how you prepare it, you can make tuna safe to eat even when you’re pregnant.
How to make tuna safe to eat during pregnancy?
There are a few ways to ensure that you make tuna safe to eat during pregnancy. The simplest way is to eat canned tuna. Canned tuna is often cooked and canned before reaching any significant levels of mercury. As such, you don’t have to worry about making it safe to eat. The next best way to make tuna safe to eat during pregnancy is to make it yourself. To do this, you’ll first want to check the amount of mercury in the type of tuna you plan to eat. You can find this information on the FDA webpage — it’s in a table called “Fish and Mercury.” Once you know the amount of mercury per serving size, you can follow the chart below to determine how to make tuna safe to eat.
Is canned tuna safe to eat while pregnant?
Yes, canned tuna is safe to eat while pregnant. It’s often cooked and canned before reaching any significant levels of mercury. As such, you don’t have to worry about making it safe to eat.
How to make sashimi from tuna during pregnancy?
Sashimi is raw fish sliced into thin pieces and eaten with dipping sauces. When you’re pregnant and craving tuna, you can make sashimi from tuna to get the taste without the risk. First, you’ll want to check the amount of mercury in tuna. You can find this information on the FDA webpage — it’s in a table called “Fish and Mercury.” Once you know the amount of mercury per serving size, you can follow the chart below to determine how to make tuna safe to eat. Next, you’ll want to check the mercury levels of your sashimi grade tuna. Sashimi grade tuna is very low in mercury and safe to eat. As such, if you serve it raw, it’ll be safe to eat. Finally, you’ll want to wash your hands and clean the cutting board and knife with soap and water. You can then use the clean board and knife to slice the tuna into sashimi.
How to make sushi from tuna during pregnancy?
Sushi is a Japanese dish made from seasoned rice with various toppings like fish, shrimp, avocado, and crab. While the toppings are typically safe to eat while pregnant, eating the rice can pose a risk. Luckily, you can make sushi at home with tuna, avocado, and a low-mercury fish like salmon or yellowtail. This way, you get all the taste without the risk of eating the rice. First, you’ll want to check the amount of mercury in tuna. You can find this information on the FDA webpage — it’s in a table called “Fish and Mercury.” Once you know the amount of mercury per serving size, you can follow the chart below to determine how to make tuna safe to eat. Next, you’ll want to check the mercury levels of the salmon and yellowtail. You can find this information on the FDA webpage — it’s in a table called “Mercury Levels in Seafood.” Once you know the amount of mercury per serving size, you can follow the chart below to determine how to make tuna safe to eat. Finally, you’ll want to wash your hands and clean the cutting board and knife with soap and water. You can then use the clean board and knife to cut the avocado, salmon, and yellowtail into slices.
How can you make raw tuna safe to eat during pregnancy?
Raw tuna can contain parasites or bacteria like salmonella. These can pose a risk to developing fetuses and make it unsafe to eat while pregnant. However, if you follow these steps, you can make raw tuna safe to eat while pregnant. First, you’ll want to freeze the tuna for 24 hours. Freezing kills any parasites or bacteria present in the tuna so you don’t have to worry about them after it thaws. After the tuna thaws, you can either cook it or eat it raw. To cook it, you can either pan fry the tuna for 3–4 minutes or bake it for 15–20 minutes. Alternatively, you can eat it raw by slicing it into sashimi.
Conclusion
Tuna is an excellent choice of fish when you’re pregnant. It’s low in mercury and other contaminants that might concern expectant mothers. As such, it’s not uncommon for pregnant women to wonder whether they can eat tuna while pregnant or not. There are a few ways to ensure that you make tuna safe to eat while pregnant. The simplest way is to eat canned tuna. Canned tuna is often cooked and canned before reaching any significant levels of mercury. The next best way to make tuna safe to eat while pregnant is to make it yourself. You’ll want to check the amount of mercury in the type of tuna you plan to eat and follow the chart below to determine how to make it safe to eat. Finally, you can make raw tuna safe to eat while pregnant by freezing it for 24 hours, thawing it, and then cooking it or eating it raw.