While they're both highly nutritious, salmon comes out ahead due to its healthy omega-3 fats and vitamin D. Meanwhile, tuna is the winner if you're instead looking for more protein and fewer calories per serving.
Let's talk cholesterol…
A 4-ounce serving of tuna provides 44 milligrams of cholesterol, and the same size serving of salmon has 52 milligrams. These aren't high numbers. Swapping red meat for fish is likely to lower your cholesterol intake.
Salmon again is the winner here in the battle of canned tuna vs canned salmon. “Canned salmon is lower in mercury than tuna because they eat lower on the food chain, which means they are lower in toxins,” Michalczyk says.
Overall, salmon offers higher levels of brain-boosting omega-3 fats, and much higher levels of bone-strengthening calcium. While tuna contains less of these, it's still a good source of omega-3 fats and an excellent source of hunger-busting protein.
1. Fatty fish. When people talk about brain foods, fatty fish is often at the top of the list. This type of fish includes salmon, trout, albacore tuna, herring, and sardines, all of which are rich sources of omega-3 fatty acids ( 1 ).
Generally speaking, eating salmon every day is not always recommended, unless you eat small amounts. “The 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that people consume 8 to 10 ounces of seafood per week, especially fish that are lower in mercury, which would include salmon,” says Pike.
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. Bigeye tuna should be avoided completely, but that species isn't used for canned tuna anyway.
Tuna contains more mercury than other popular seafood items, including salmon, oysters, lobster, scallops and tilapia ( 1 ). This is because tuna feed on smaller fish which are already contaminated with varying amounts of mercury.
Is canned tuna fish good for you? Yes, canned tuna is a healthful food rich in protein and contains many vitamins and minerals such as B-Complex vitamins, Vitamins A and D as well as iron, selenium and phosphorus. Tuna also contains healthy omega 3 essential fatty acids DHA and EPA.
The best in terms of lowering cholesterol are tuna, salmon, and swordfish. Sardines and halibut are good options, too. Dr. Curry says, if you don't like to eat fish, consider taking omega-3 supplements.
Soluble fiber can reduce the absorption of cholesterol into your bloodstream. Soluble fiber is found in such foods as oatmeal, kidney beans, Brussels sprouts, apples and pears. Add whey protein. Whey protein, which is found in dairy products, may account for many of the health benefits attributed to dairy.
Canned light tuna is in the “Best Choices” category and it is fine to eat 2 to 3 servings per week. We recommend that you eat a variety of fish.
Both water-packed and oil-packed tuna are good sources of protein and low in saturated fat. However, canned tuna packed in oil tends to be higher in calories and total fat.
Should I buy tuna packed in water or oil? Tuna packed in water has a milder flavor and fewer calories than oil-packed, so if you need a can for your everyday tuna salad on rye, water-packed works fine. For the best flavor and a richer texture, look for tuna packed in olive oil.
The loss of health beneficial ω-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA were minimum in cooked tuna followed by microwave heated tuna. Canning totally destroyed these fatty acids.
Canned salmon is a nutritious choice
Canned salmon is rich in protein, vitamin D, calcium (from the bones) and omega-3 fats. Omega-3 fats are heart healthy fats and also promote healthy brain development in babies. Canada's Food Guide recommends we eat a protein food at every meal, like fish and salmon.
Five of the most commonly eaten fish that are low in mercury are shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, pollock, and catfish.
Fish and shellfish in this category, such as salmon, catfish, tilapia, lobster and scallops, are safe to eat two to three times a week, or 8 to 12 ounces per week, according to the FDA.
Salmon skin is usually considered safe to eat. The skin contains more of the same minerals and nutrients contained in salmon, which may be an excellent addition to any diet. There are some things to consider when choosing whether to eat the salmon skin, such as the source and quality of the fish.
While they are both excellent sources of protein and add to your nutrient profile, the benefits of fish tend to be slightly higher than chicken, especially when it comes to the Omega-3 content in it.