The U.S. Tuna Foundation (USTF) today said that the updated Dietary Guidelines for Americans issued by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will help to underscore the important health benefits of canned tuna and other fatty fish for people of all ages.
Responding to the new recommendation that consumers eat two eight-ounce servings a week of foods rich in the omega-3 fatty acids EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), USTF said that canned tuna is an excellent source of these two essential fatty acids. In fact, of the top 10 most commonly consumed fish in this country, salmon and canned albacore tuna have the highest levels of the omega-3 fatty acid DHA, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Nutritional Database. Omega-3 fatty acids are considered essential because the body does not make them and must get these fatty acids from food sources.
In making this recommendation, the 13-member 2005 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee whose scientific review formed the basis for updating the government's nutrition advice concluded that higher levels of EPA and DHA are associated with the reduced risk of both sudden death and death from coronary heart disease in adults. Specifically the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee estimates a 30 percent reduction in the risk of coronary deaths with the increased intake of omega-3 fatty acids. Further, the panel recommended fish over supplements as a source of omega-3 fatty acids because epidemiological studies and other data demonstrate that fish also is high in other nutrients and is low in saturated fat and calories.
Besides being cardio-protective, USTF pointed to a growing body of research that links omega-3 fatty acids with optimal brain function and cognition, improved eye and skin health, protection against certain cancers, and a therapeutic effect on depression and specific autoimmune diseases including lupus, psoriasis and arthritis.
At the same time, the omega-3 fatty acids in canned tuna are essential for the developing brain during pregnancy and the first two years of a baby's life. According to numerous studies, DHA comprises approximately 40 percent of the polyunsaturated fatty acid content in the cell membranes in the brain and is transferred from mother to the fetus at a high rate during the last trimester of pregnancy. Along with DHA, the developing fetus uses EPA for the growth of the brain and the developing nervous system.
Besides being a rich source of essential omega-3 fatty acids, the U.S. Tuna Foundation said that eating more canned tuna will also help Americans meet the recommendations of the new Dietary Guidelines to lower the amount of saturated fat they consume and to achieve a healthy weight. This is because canned tuna is low in fat, rich in certain vitamins and minerals and is so high in protein that one six-ounce can yields one-third of the recommended daily amount. Moreover, canned tuna is very low in calories compared to other protein sources. There are 116 calories in a 100-gram serving of water-packed canned tuna compared with 208 calories in the same serving of turkey.
More information about canned tuna and its health benefits is available at the USTF website www.tunafacts.com
Established in 1976, the U.S. Tuna Foundation (USTF) is the national organization representing the canned tuna processors and the fishermen who supply them and addresses issues ranging from fishing access arrangements to federal and state regulations and domestic marketing.