Benefits of tuna, a fresh and local ingredient

Tuna is the most consumed fish in the world. Luckily, our Mediterranean Sea offers this exquisite food, with specimens that even exceed three hundred kilos. Spain has popular recipes based on this product, such as marmitako, pickles, tuna onions, tatakis, tartars, etc. And at our Can Pep restaurant in Port d’Andratx, a port with a fishing tradition, this fresh and local ingredient could not be missing. We use it in such appetizing dishes as tuna tartar and tuna tataki. Delicious! But what are the benefits of tuna?

Properties and benefits of tuna

Tuna is a perfect substitute for meat and helps to follow a more balanced diet. Among the benefits of this product is its high content of Omega 3 fatty acids. Fats that help protect the heart and cardiovascular system. This fish provides a high protein intake. In fact, it is the most complete food at the protein level, as it has the presence of the ten amino acids necessary for the body.

Among the vitamins present in tuna, B2, B3, B6, B9 and B12 stand out; it also contains significant amounts of vitamins A and D, which promote skin and tissue repair as well as calcium absorption, respectively. Finally, among the benefits of tuna are the minerals that this food provides: potassium, phosphorus, selenium, magnesium, iron and iodine. Potassium is related to the correct muscular activity; phosphorus helps the nervous system and benefits the bone system; on selenium it is known that it has antioxidant properties; magnesium improves the functioning of the intestine; iron prevents anemia, and finally iodine is crucial for thyroid function.

In short, tuna is a very complete food and the best alternative when you want to reduce meat consumption. And eating it brings a myriad of advantages, while its only cons are its high content of mercury and purines, which can cause an increase in uric acid.