For a tuna fan, there’s no such thing as too much tuna - especially when it comes to sushi.

However, as it turns out, even saltwater fish like tuna has its fair share of shortcomings and negative health effects.

There’s no denying that tuna happens to be one of the easiest and simplest foods to consume. It can easily fulfill your protein requirement for the day since it is rich in nutrients such as Omega 3 and good fats that are essential for a healthy body.

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Despite tuna’s high nutrient and protein content, like most other things in life, it is important to practice moderation even for things that are beneficial for us.

With that thought, here’s what can happen if you consume too much tuna.

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Methylmercury in High Concentration

Though it is extremely delicious when paired with rice or bread, you should consume tuna only in limited quantities and amounts. The FDA has recommended no more than two servings of light canned tuna or one serving of white tuna, including either albacore or yellowfin, per week.

That sounds quite conservative, right? Well, this restriction stems from the fact that tuna meat contains high amounts of methylmercury - a toxin that can cause neurological kidney disorders. You may already know about mercury and how toxic it is when ingested, so naturally, you have to be careful when eating fish rich in methylmercury. Usually, frequent tuna-eaters do have a certain (albeit small) amount of methylmercury in their bloodstream, which can get dangerous if that quantity increases.

If you aren’t swayed by our arguments yet and still hell-bent on eating more tuna, we have more bad news for you.

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Consequences of Consuming Methylmercury

The mercury present in the fish enters your body once you consume the meat. The increased amount of mercury begins to settle in your tissue, causing damage over time. This toxic material is released into the bloodstream and can cause significant damage to small children and unborn babies.

If you ask us, this is too high of a risk just to satisfy your tastebuds when you could easily opt for another food item for sustenance.

Nevertheless, that’s not to say you should never have tuna again. The FDA states that even one week of regular tuna consumption doesn’t alter mercury levels in the bloodstream but if you ask us, it’s probably best to limit tuna consumption to maybe once a week at most.