Canned tuna is a good source of lean protein, heart-healthy omega-3 fats, selenium, vitamin D, B vitamins and other nutrients that benefit general well being. In general, canned tuna is a moderately good source of EPA and DHA, the two main omega-3s in fish. It has less of these than salmon, but more than most other fish. White tuna has more than light tuna meat. The amount of fatty acids varies greatly between different types of packing. Tuna packed in water has about three times as much EPA and DHA as tuna packed in oil. This is because when oil is drained some of the omega-3s go with it. Since water and oil does not mix draining the liquid in water-packed tuna does not reduce omega-3s.
Water-packed tuna is preferable as it has fewer calories and retains more omega-s in comparison to oil-packed chunk tuna. Chunk tuna absorbs more oil than solid white even when drained. The oil that tuna is packed in is often soybean oil, which is unsaturated and heart-healthy.
