I ate a popular 'health' food every day to lose weight... but it was poisoning me
Share this @internewscast.com

Nasha Montgomery was looking to lose weight and began following a healthy diet, incorporating what she thought was a powerhouse food.

A mainstay in her plan was canned tuna – promoted as a healthy staple for its high-quality protein, omega-3 fatty acids and essential vitamins and minerals. 

The office worker from Alabama would meal prep salads with tuna and eat it in sandwiches, with crackers for breakfast and lunch and as a snack at work every day.

On average, Montgomery, 29, would consume about six cans of tuna a week – each ranging between 5 and 12 oz. This meant she was eating between 2 and 4.5 lbs of tuna per week.

What Montgomery didn’t realize, was that tuna is high in mercury – a neurotoxin. Mercury is present in all fish, but can be at concerning levels in tuna, especially depending on the type, because they are predatory fish that accumulate a lot of mercury through their diet.

Montgomery said she mainly consumed albacore tuna, which has some of the highest levels of mercury among the fish varieties.

Most people can safely eat just 5 oz of albacore per week – Montgomery was eating up to 14 times what is considered a safe amount. 

After about four months on the diet, she began experiencing muscle cramping, hair loss and a metallic taste in her mouth – a hallmark symptom of mercury poisoning.

Nasha Montgomery (pictured), a 29-year-old office worker from Alabama, began experiencing distressing symptoms about four months into her new diet

Nasha Montgomery (pictured), a 29-year-old office worker from Alabama, began experiencing distressing symptoms about four months into her new diet

A mainstay in Montgomery's diet plan was canned tuna - promoted as a healthy staple for its high-quality protein, omega-3 fatty acids and essential vitamins and minerals

A mainstay in Montgomery’s diet plan was canned tuna – promoted as a healthy staple for its high-quality protein, omega-3 fatty acids and essential vitamins and minerals

At first, she blamed her symptoms on stress as she had just started a new job. But following a heavy metals blood test, she claims high levels of mercury were found in her body and she was diagnosed with suspected mercury poisoning.

Mercury poisoning can cause serious neurological damage and the FDA and EPA urge people to limit their fish intake because of it – pregnant women are advised to avoid fish altogether.

Symptoms include memory loss, irritability, tingling limbs and changes in vision, taste or smell. The toxin can also travel to your heart and kidneys, causing damage to the organs.

To treat the toxicity, doctors will administer chelation therapy, which removes heavy metals from the body through fluid in an IV.

Detailing her ordeal in a TikTok earlier this month, Montgomery said she would meal prep tuna with mayo, onions and relish and ‘eat it throughout the day for breakfast, snacks, lunch’ and even again for dinner if she had leftovers – going through about six cans per week.

‘It became a theme [at work], that because I was eating so often, my colleagues would call it “tuna time” instead of lunch time,’ she said.

‘Around the 4.5 month mark is when I noticed major symptoms. I started to feel sick, tired all the time, my muscles were weakening and cramping.

‘My hands and feet were tingly and numb and my hair was falling out. On occasions I started to have a metallic taste in my mouth, too.’

She went to the doctor for a regular physical, and the blood tests didn’t reveal anything out of the ordinary. But when the symptoms continued, doctors inquired about her diet and she mentioned she was eating a lot of tuna.

Montgomery estimated she was consuming 2 to 4.5 lbs of tuna per week

Montgomery estimated she was consuming 2 to 4.5 lbs of tuna per week

Montgomery said she would meal prep tuna with mayo, onions and relish and 'eat it throughout the day'

Montgomery said she would meal prep tuna with mayo, onions and relish and 'eat it throughout the day'

Montgomery said she would meal prep tuna with mayo, onions and relish and ‘eat it throughout the day’

That’s when doctors ran the heavy metals panel. 

‘I was in shock as I thought I was doing something right by eating the tuna as it was healthy and the things I was eating the tuna with were also healthy,’ Montgomery said.

‘I felt like I was doing right by myself, but too much of a good thing can always backfire.’

To allow her levels to return to normal, Montgomery had to go on an eight month detox from the seafood and now only eats tuna about once a month. 

‘I was detoxing like I was addicted to it,’ Montgomery said.

‘I’m very careful now about my fish choices. It took me about six to eight months to get my body back to normal.

‘Sometimes I do feel tingly or numbness in my fingers and feet but aside from that I haven’t experienced any long-term effects [from my mercury poisoning].’

Following her experience, Montgomery is eager to raise awareness about the dangers of eating too much tuna.

‘One thing I would say to people eating tuna all the time is I’d advocate for them to be more aware,’ she said.

‘Especially when it comes to something seemingly healthy like tuna, you want to make sure you’re balancing those things out.

‘It’s easy to overlook subtle symptoms, but if something feels off, it’s important to slow down, pay attention, and take care of yourself.’

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Vet Urges Immediate Action if You Spot These Seven Warning Signs

A vet has shared the signs and symptoms pet owners need to…

Alaska Woman’s Death Caused by Rapidly Spreading STD Affecting Major Organs

An Alaska woman has died after a rare and severe complication of…

Mother Undergoes Dramatic Transformation with Nine Stone Weight Loss by Embracing One Lifestyle Change

A mother-of-one who once weighed over 18 stone has revealed how she…

Mum Sheds 11 Stone with Mounjaro, But Faces Challenges with Self-Image

Jade Stalker, 36, tipped the scales at 22st 8lbs, indulging in crisps,…

Cheerleading Star Ava Hid a Troubling Secret Until Her Mom’s Greatest Fear Was Realized

Debbie Howland believed she was saving her daughter, Ava, when she sent…

Study reveals hearing problems often spark more disputes in elderly couples

“What?” is a phrase more frequently used than “I love you” among…

Nighttime Symptom of Type 2 Diabetes Indicative of Elevated Blood Sugar Levels

One of the most alarming aspects of type 2 diabetes is that…

The Incredible Transformations Your Body Undergoes After a Month Without Sugar

It might sound like a no-brainer that most people who stop eating…

Critical Mounjaro Alert: Widespread Error May Threaten Patients with Severe Organ Damage, Expert Advises

A nurse has warned thousands of patients using the weight loss jab…

Exploring the Obesity Capital: A Town Where McDonald’s is Eaten Four Times a Day and 80% Face Weight Issues

Will Tennyson traveled thousands of miles to visit a town known as…

Can Stress Really Lead to Nosebleeds? Discover the Unexpected Link

Have you ever noticed that your nose starts bleeding out of the…

Recognizing Eye Signs of Critically High Cholesterol Levels: Key Symptoms to Watch For

When it comes to watching your cholesterol levels, the eyes could signal…