This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of HealthyTuna.com. All opinions are 100% mine.
One of the biggest myths we’re faced with today is to avoid seafood, especially tuna. With high-level mercury fishes being correlated to fetal issues (primarily Autism) pregnant women are hesitant to eat tuna at all – which is a big mistake.
While doctors and researchers still recommend an intake of low-mercury fish in pregnancy and breastfeeding, there has been further research to show that there are benefits to eating fish (at least 2 servings per week) as opposed to mothers who do not.
The website healthy tuna documents some of that research. Both in other countries, and in the United States where the fish are farmed and raised differently.
Their findings indicate in a study that pregnant and nursing mothers who ate at least 2 servings of tuna per week scored higher on visual memory and IQ level tests (higher infant cognition) than those who did not. Being pregnant and knowing this – made me want to integrate more fish into my diet. It’s odd because I have been craving fish like nothing else this pregnancy and it tore me apart that I couldn’t fu fill that craving.
Now, I will eat my low-mercury fish options and not feel so guilty about it! The good thing about tuna is that it can be prepped so many different ways. One of my favorite tuna sandwiches involves the following:
My Little Recipe:
- 2 slices of 100% whole weat/whole grain toast.
- 1 tablespoon of low-fat/fat-free mayonaise (or miracle whip!)
- 1 slice of tomato
- 1 slice of red onion
- 1/2 can of tuna, drained of juices.
- Pam Spray
- 1/4 cup shredded lettuce
Directions:
With a pan set on Medium/Hot (usually a 6-7 on my stove) I spray with PAM non-stick, and then sautee the tuna, keeping it as together as I can. I do this until it is a little browned.
While tuna is warming, I toast my two slices of toast (I like things lightly toasted) and then apply 1/2 teaspoon mayo to both sides of the bread. When tuna is finished, I place tuna on one slice of bread and top directly with slice of tomato, red onion and then lettuce. Then, of course, top the whole thing off with the other slice of toasted bread.
Voila. It’s delish!
A helpful guide to estimate your mercury exposure from fish is the free online mercury calculator at http://www.gotmercury.org. Based on the current U.S. EPA and FDA guidelines, the mercury calculator is an excellent way to know your potential mercury exposure risk. You can also use the free mobile mercury calculator for cell phone browsers
at http://www.gotmercury.mobi
Thanks for this great information. I never thought that tuna is good for breastfeeding moms like me.
.-= mary@baby gifts´s last blog ..Bookends & Book Holders =-.
pregancy is quite critical and also requires more of your time so that you can monitor your health progress -.:
I firmly support this. I just would like to note the importance of taking everything in moderation. I admit that I still have qualms about eating tuna during pregnancy, what with the long-standing belief on avoiding seafoods at this time, but with the recent developments and research, how could one refute the arguments?
Your recipe sounds yummy too … pregnant or not, I think I’ll try it out!
I’m not sure about this. My wife is pregnant with our third child. With the first two, we have always been warned against eating tuna and salmon — two of my wife’s fave seafood. She has always succeeded in completely avoiding these, all for the sakes of our babies. Now, this. I think we’ll stick to avoiding them .. just to be in the safe side …
There are a lot of contradictory data regarding food intake and activities in which one can engage in when pregnant. When I was pregnant with my first child, I signed up with about half a dozen sites tackling motherhood and pregnancy issues. The weekly updates they sent me were sometimes pretty confusing, contradictory and alarming. So what I would always do was to err on the safe side. Anything to ensure the well being of my little bun!
I remember my wife feeling so bad whenever we went out to our fave Japanese restaurant when she was pregnant. I’d order my usual plateful of salmon and tuna sashimi — obviously no-nos for pregnant women. She was looking forward to diving into her own plateful after giving birth, but then there’s breastfeeding to contend with.