The One Canned Food You Need To Stop Buying Immediately, According To Health Experts
May 20, 2021 by Justine Schwartz
While many of us can thank canned foods for getting us through the darkest days of quarantine, health experts warn that not all canned foods are created equal.
Yes, there are known benefits to canned foods. “They are an excellent and often nutrient dense option to fit fruit and vegetables into your diet in an easy and affordable way,” nutritionist Lisa Richards and author of The Candida Diet explains. And for people who are still wary of visiting the grocery store amid Covid-19, canned foods may seem like a great way to keep foods stored for longer–but there’s a catch.
Certain canned foods, such as fruit packed in syrup, should be avoided in favor of more nutritionally-balanced options. One of those canned foods you should avoid at all costs is–surprise!–a certain type of tuna. Here’s everything you need to know:
Canned Albacore Tuna“While most canned or pouched tuna is considered a healthy meal or snack option, this particular variety should be avoided for two reasons: oil content and presence of mercury,” registered dietitian Trista Best, MPH, RD, LD of Balance One Supplements warns.
On the caloric side, Best warns that the oil many albacore tuna varietals are packed with in order to enhance flavor and texture can have a high fat content–and not the good kind. “The oil that is used is generally high in saturated fat, rather than opting for a healthy fat option,” she advises.