Does Canned Fish Have The Same Nutritional Value as Fresh Fish? We are excited to report that the short answer is YES! Fresh and canned fish have roughly the same nutritional value, according to the United States Department of Agriculture's National Nutrient Database.
The tests showed that, based on recommended serving sizes, sardines and salmon contained much higher amounts of omega-3 fatty acids than tuna. Sardines provided about 1,600 mg to 1,800 mg of DHA and EPA per 85 gram serving, while salmon provided 400 mg to 700 mg per 56 gram serving.
Now that's for salmon. Sardines contain significantly less mercury than salmon, so even if you had two standard-sized cans of sardines (~3 ounces / ~84 grams drained), that's still only ~6 ounces of a safer fish in terms of heavy metals. In fact, you could have 4–5 cans of sardines and still be safe!
Both fresh and canned sardines have health benefits, including helping to fight inflammation and supporting the health of your heart, bones, and immune system. There are many ways to eat sardines, making them a creative and nutrient-dense ingredient to add to your kitchen.
Potential Health Benefits of Canned Sardines
The omega-3 fatty acids found in fish work to protect the cardiovascular system. Omega-3s stabilize heart rhythms, decrease triglycerides (fat in your blood), and keep arteries free from blockages. They are highest in oily fish like salmon, mackerel, and sardines.
Canned sardines contain a lot of sodium. One can has about 282 milligrams of sodium, which is roughly 12% of the daily recommended value. If you have high blood pressure, you should restrict sodium because it attracts water and adds to the volume of blood in the body.
Sardines are high in protein, rich in omega-3 fatty acids (associated with heart health benefits), and filled with certain important vitamins (especially D and B12) and minerals (such as calcium). However, sardines packed in oil are high in sodium and cholesterol, so daily consumption of them is not advisable.
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.
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.
Note that sardines are stilllow in saturated fat and provide a good source of calcium. To get the most health benefit from omega-3-rich sardines,however, choose those packed in fish oil, water, olive oil, mustardor tomato sauce.
2 Canned sardines: Sustainable and full of healthy omega-3 fatty acids, sardines are one of the few fish we can and should be eating regularly. 3 Canned salmon: Canned salmon is lower in mercury than canned tuna and can be mixed into burgers, croquettes, pasta and quiche.
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. You may wish to try other affordable fish in the “Best Choices” category such as canned salmon or sardines, frozen fish, or fresh fish that are at a reduced price.
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.
From a nutrition standpoint, water-packed tuna provides you with pure protein and a more subtle tuna flavor. Oil-packed tuna, on the other hand, has a softer texture and stronger tuna flavor. Both water-packed and oil-packed are excellent sources of protein and can be found from sustainable, non-GMO brands.
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.
Too much sodium can lead to high blood pressure, stroke, and heart disease —but “in the context of a varied diet, [tinned fish] likely won't make too much of a difference,” Rumsey says. Basically, if you don't eat it every day, at every meal, you're probably good.
Canned fish like salmon, tuna, and sardines are just as healthy as fresh! Not to mention a lot cheaper. The canning process does not diminish any of their nutritional properties. The fish is simply cooked in water (and sometimes salt) and then canned.
Similar to shrimp, sardines are a potent seafood source of cholesterol. An ounce of sardines contains as much as 40 milligrams of cholesterol, and it's easy to eat more than an ounce at a time.
Cold-water Fish- Fish rich in healthy fats such as tuna, salmon, mackerel, and sardines can help clear arteries.
The FDA recommends a weekly intake of two to three servings of sardines, or 8 to 12 ounces for adults and 4 to 6 ounces for children age 4 to 7. The FDA recognizes the health benefits of eating fish, especially for pregnant people and young children. Pregnant people can eat up to 12 ounces per week.
Sardines
Sardines provide 2 grams of heart-healthy omega-3s per 3 ounce serving, which is one of the highest levels of omega-3 and the lowest levels of mercury of any fish.