Can I eat yellowfin tuna while breastfeeding?

Can I eat yellowfin tuna while breastfeeding?

It is safe to eat raw fish if you’re breastfeeding, as long as you follow the guidelines and avoid fish that have high levels of mercury. For example, you’ll want to avoid sushi made from bigeye tuna, and have yellowfin tuna sushi only occasionally.

Is tuna high in mercury breastfeeding?

Avoid: High-Mercury Fish One food that you absolutely want to steer clear of while breastfeeding is fish high in mercury like tuna, swordfish and mackerel. Even in small amounts, mercury toxins can pass through breast milk to your baby and affect their brain and nervous system.

Is yellowfin tuna high in mercury?

Bigeye and yellowfin, also known as ahi, are common in sushi. Both types, along with bluefin, are high in mercury and should be eaten infrequently, if at all. Most tuna are caught by purse seines or longlines, which have moderate-to-high bycatch of seabirds, sea turtles and marine mammals.

Is it okay to eat tuna while breastfeeding?

Fish with high mercury levels Fish with high levels of mercury are a big no-no while nursing–so much so that the EPA asks pregnant and nursing moms to avoid those high mercury level fish like some forms of tuna, shark, swordfish, tilefish and king mackerel.

Does mercury get into breast milk?

Mercury can pass from a mother to her baby through the placenta during pregnancy and, in smaller amounts, through breast milk after birth. Exposure to mercury can affect the infant’s brain and nervous system development during pregnancy and after birth.

Why is yellowfin tuna bad?

Tuna is a saltwater fish eaten all over the world. It’s incredibly nutritious and a great source of protein, omega-3 fatty acids and B vitamins. However, it can contain high levels of mercury, a toxic heavy metal.

Which tuna is lowest in mercury?

Canned light tuna is the better, lower-mercury choice, according to the FDA and EPA. Canned white and yellowfin tuna are higher in mercury, but still okay to eat.

Is it safe to eat tuna while breastfeeding?

The NYC.gov site recommends that pregnant and nursing women as well as children avoid eating any raw tuna or sushi. Both the Environmental Protection Agency and the FDA recommend not eating ahi tuna in any amount during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. As an alternative, if you like tuna, choose tuna lower in mercury.

How often should pregnant women eat low mercury tuna?

However, the study noted that low-mercury fish was associated with better brain scores (). Health authorities currently advise that children, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers should limit intake of tuna and other high-mercury fish, instead aiming for 2–3 servings of low-mercury fish per week (4, 10).

Is there Mercury in breast milk from fish?

Most fish contain some level of mercury. When a mother eats fish, the mercury in the fish can be passed into her breast milk. However, the benefits of breastfeeding may be greater than the possible adverse effects of exposure to mercury through breast milk.

What kind of mercury does tuna have in it?

Here are some common tuna species and their mercury concentrations (1): Species Mercury in ppm Mercury (in mcg) per 3 ounces (85 grams) Light tuna (canned) 0.126 10.71 Skipjack tuna (fresh or frozen) 0.144 12.24 Albacore tuna (canned) 0.350 29.75 Yellowfin tuna (fresh or frozen) 0.354 30.09