Quote (flussp @ Apr 2 2015 02:41pm)
I've heard controversial opinions on this.
What do you guys think?
I think it is fine in moderation.
I agree with most here that it is unlikely to impossible that you will develop mercury poisoning - that doesn't mean you should eat 6 cans a day lol.
If anything, you will simply be depriving yourself of the nutrients found in other tasty meats and your taste for canned fish will probably flame out.
I would like to add that most mercury is poorly absorbed from the GI and you should look to where the fish is farmed/taken from. A big source of mercury is industry.
It ends up as air pollution and then enters the water supply where the fish are taken from. Certain brands may be better than others.
Also, the skinny of it is that methyl-mercury is formed in water environments where certain anaerobes are present. It works its way up through them in the food chain eventually ending up in fish after bioamplification.
It is much better absorbed regular elemental mercury and can pass the blood brain barrier better (and also the placenta which is why pregnant women are especially at risk of over-consumption). This is how it causes CNS effects.
TL;DR - you don't have much to worry about, but eating anything in excess (clear excess being multiple servings per day at the expense of other nutritious food) isn't the best option anyway.
