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Why Is Tuna Making Me Sick?

KikiB

By KikiB
in Food Intolerance & Leaky Gut

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KikiB Explorer
KikiB
Posted

Originally I thought it was the soy in the tuna that was making me nauseous. So I bought the cans with just tuna and water. No soy. But after 3 tries, 2 weeks apart for each try, I still get nauseous and fatigued. I use Kraft Best Foods mayo in it, my own bottle, so it's not contaminated.

So frustrating. I have always loved tuna. Up until the mono triggered this nightmare with gluten, I ate tuna all the time with no problems.

Is it possible I have developed an intolerance to tuna?

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Kamma Explorer
Kamma
Posted

Originally I thought it was the soy in the tuna that was making me nauseous. So I bought the cans with just tuna and water. No soy. But after 3 tries, 2 weeks apart for each try, I still get nauseous and fatigued. I use Kraft Best Foods mayo in it, my own bottle, so it's not contaminated.

So frustrating. I have always loved tuna. Up until the mono triggered this nightmare with gluten, I ate tuna all the time with no problems.

Is it possible I have developed an intolerance to tuna?

Is the mayonnaise made with soy oil?

tarnalberry Community Regular
tarnalberry
Posted

Have you tried just tuna? Maybe it's the mayo you have a problem with?

Juliebove Rising Star
Juliebove
Posted

I am intolerant to any and all fish. Not sure what my symptoms are though since I only know this by testing. I just gave up all fish then.

KikiB Explorer
KikiB
Posted
  • Author

Is the mayonnaise made with soy oil?

Have you tried just tuna? Maybe it's the mayo you have a problem with?

This is why I have to ask for help. Clueless. I never knew there was soy in the mayo. But I have been putting it on sandwiches with no problem. So maybe it's the amount of mayo because there is more when it is just tuna and mayo?

I don't think I could eat just plain tuna without mayo.

I am intolerant to any and all fish. Not sure what my symptoms are though since I only know this by testing. I just gave up all fish then.

I have no problem with salmon or shellfish that I am aware of.

Kamma Explorer
Kamma
Posted

This is why I have to ask for help. Clueless. I never knew there was soy in the mayo. But I have been putting it on sandwiches with no problem. So maybe it's the amount of mayo because there is more when it is just tuna and mayo?

I don't think I could eat just plain tuna without mayo.

I have no problem with salmon or shellfish that I am aware of.

I had no clue either until I started getting sick and looking at the ingredients of food that I used to take for granted. :) No worries. By the way, I use a mayonnaise that uses canola oil instead of soy oil. There's quite a few out there that do. Try doing the switch and see if that helps. Or, if you don't want to invest in a jar of mayonnaise that you might react to, just try eating plain tuna for a bit. If you don't get sick, then it was the mayonnaise.....an THEN invest in a jar of canola oil mayonnaise. :)

bartfull Rising Star
bartfull
Posted

If you can tolerate plain yogurt you could try mixing a bit of that in the tuna instead of mayo. I promise, it'll taste good.

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Kamma Explorer
Kamma
Posted

If you can tolerate plain yogurt you could try mixing a bit of that in the tuna instead of mayo. I promise, it'll taste good.

Yeah! I heard that was good! I can't have it cause it's dairy...but damn, if I only could!

bartfull Rising Star
bartfull
Posted

Oh yeah, I forgot to ask if you have any problems with corn. If so, it might be the lining of the cans. They are now lining some cans with the new corn-based plastic. Crazy as it sounds, if you are intolerant to corn, it'll get you.

KikiB Explorer
KikiB
Posted
  • Author

I had no clue either until I started getting sick and looking at the ingredients of food that I used to take for granted. :) No worries. By the way, I use a mayonnaise that uses canola oil instead of soy oil. There's quite a few out there that do. Try doing the switch and see if that helps. Or, if you don't want to invest in a jar of mayonnaise that you might react to, just try eating plain tuna for a bit. If you don't get sick, then it was the mayonnaise.....an THEN invest in a jar of canola oil mayonnaise. :)

I'll look around for one this weekend. I can't believe how many things have soy in them! You don't worry about the canola oil?

If you can tolerate plain yogurt you could try mixing a bit of that in the tuna instead of mayo. I promise, it'll taste good.

I've never liked yogurt, but I'll give it a try. Thanks for the tip!

tarnalberry Community Regular
tarnalberry
Posted

I mash up an avocado and use that instead of mayo in my tuna. Pretty tasty!

Kamma Explorer
Kamma
Posted

I'll look around for one this weekend. I can't believe how many things have soy in them! You don't worry about the canola oil?

I've never liked yogurt, but I'll give it a try. Thanks for the tip!

Yup, there's tons of things with soy in them. Even margarine. Every margarine container that I looked at one day had soy in it. The only soy free substitute I have ever found is Earth Balance Almond Spread.

Canola oil is naturally gluten free. It has the potential for cross contamination in the processing but there is something to do with the seed sizes and the cleaning process that eliminates this potential. It's tested further after processing and before shipment and these tests show there is no detectable levels.

I hope the mayonnaise is the problem as having to forego tuna would be disappointing. Tuna is one my staples! Good luck!

Takala Enthusiast
Takala
Posted

You can try fresh tuna or fresh frozen plain tuna, and cook it yourself, to test if it is a canned tuna processing problem.

Lady Eowyn Apprentice
Lady Eowyn
Posted

Hi

I just can't eat cannned tuna either.

Used to have it pre-gluten-free but felt so yuk all the time back then that may not have noticed.

Pretty soon noticed when gluten free though (along with lots of other things :( ).

Have tried it packed in just spring water but no good. I can eat canned salmon and mackerel no problem.

Can eat fresh tuna ok - perhaps something funny going on in tuna canning industry :blink: .

Don't eat mayonnaise anyway so no worries there !!!

KikiB Explorer
KikiB
Posted
  • Author

Oh yeah, I forgot to ask if you have any problems with corn. If so, it might be the lining of the cans. They are now lining some cans with the new corn-based plastic. Crazy as it sounds, if you are intolerant to corn, it'll get you.

I don't think I have a problem with corn. I hadn't heard that about the cans! How can you tell if a can has been lined with the corn-based plastic?

KikiB Explorer
KikiB
Posted
  • Author

I mash up an avocado and use that instead of mayo in my tuna. Pretty tasty!

That does sound good. I'm going to try the tuna plain the next time I feel up to it, and if all goes ok, I'll try the avocado!

Yup, there's tons of things with soy in them. Even margarine. Every margarine container that I looked at one day had soy in it. The only soy free substitute I have ever found is Earth Balance Almond Spread.

Canola oil is naturally gluten free. It has the potential for cross contamination in the processing but there is something to do with the seed sizes and the cleaning process that eliminates this potential. It's tested further after processing and before shipment and these tests show there is no detectable levels.

I hope the mayonnaise is the problem as having to forego tuna would be disappointing. Tuna is one my staples! Good luck!

Thanks for the info on Canola, I was worried about it.

You can try fresh tuna or fresh frozen plain tuna, and cook it yourself, to test if it is a canned tuna processing problem.

Good idea!

Hi

I just can't eat cannned tuna either.

Used to have it pre-gluten-free but felt so yuk all the time back then that may not have noticed.

Pretty soon noticed when gluten free though (along with lots of other things :( ).

Have tried it packed in just spring water but no good. I can eat canned salmon and mackerel no problem.

Can eat fresh tuna ok - perhaps something funny going on in tuna canning industry :blink: .

Don't eat mayonnaise anyway so no worries there !!!

It wouldn't surprise me. I don't really trust companies to be open about what they are doing with our food.

bartfull Rising Star
bartfull
Posted

I don't think I have a problem with corn. I hadn't heard that about the cans! How can you tell if a can has been lined with the corn-based plastic?

Most companys are switching over from BPA plastics to the corn-based stuff. BPA's are bad for us anyway, so I just avoid all canned food now.

GottaSki Mentor
GottaSki
Posted

Lightbulb just popped up over my head!

My husband catches tuna when he goes fishing - when he catches enough we "can" it in mason jars - some years we run out or have none so we by canned albacore.

I like ours - but not canned!! If next season provides I'll save a few jars for you :)

Celiac Mindwarp Community Regular
Celiac Mindwarp
Posted

I like tuna with a bit of olive oil, especially the ones with a bit of natural flavor like chilli.

If I have something like artichokes in a jar I keep the oil left in the jar and use it a dressing

Good luck

KikiB Explorer
KikiB
Posted
  • Author

Most companys are switching over from BPA plastics to the corn-based stuff. BPA's are bad for us anyway, so I just avoid all canned food now.

Ugh! I don't eat a lot of canned food, but I hope I stay ok with corn!

KikiB Explorer
KikiB
Posted
  • Author

Lightbulb just popped up over my head!

My husband catches tuna when he goes fishing - when he catches enough we "can" it in mason jars - some years we run out or have none so we by canned albacore.

I like ours - but not canned!! If next season provides I'll save a few jars for you :)

Wow, that's so awesome!!! :D

I like tuna with a bit of olive oil, especially the ones with a bit of natural flavor like chilli.

If I have something like artichokes in a jar I keep the oil left in the jar and use it a dressing

Good luck

Very clever!

  • 1 month later...
KikiB Explorer
KikiB
Posted
  • Author

I made my own mayo without soy, and used it today with tuna. I'm super queasy. Could it be the tuna? Or the Canola oil?

I don't think I have a problem corn. I eat chicken tacos on corn tortillas without a problem...

GFinDC Veteran
GFinDC
Posted

Hi Kiki,

I think you said the mayo didn't make you sick right? So, yes, it's the tuna. No problem, just stop eating tuna. People shouldn't eat seafood more than twice a week anyway, due to the mercury levels in some fish. You could try other kinds of fish instead, there are a lot of them out there in the sea! :)

Seifer Rookie
Seifer
Posted

It could be a histamine problem, tuna converts histidine to histamine if it's not fresh from the ocean, if you're sensitive as me that might be it

RuskitD Rookie
RuskitD
Posted

If there is a corn sensitivity, it could be getting you in many ways. Fish are caught and put in a vat of corn based citric acid/water for the trip to land. Many 'tuna in water' really isn't 'water' but vegetable broth. Vegetable either being corn or soy. Then there is the can lining, as mentioned. But I would guess your mayo has corn also.

I personally have found that since going gluten-free I can eat some things that used to kill my gut. Like citrus no longer bothers me. But then there are things I seemed ok with before gluten-free (and CF) that I can no longer tolerate. My best advice is listen to your body. If it says DON'T, then don't try to force it to say YES.

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