What Is the Carb Count for Canned Tuna?

Canned tuna is a healthy but inexpensive food which can be used as a snack or a component of a well-balanced meal. According to Nutrition Data, canned tuna is low in saturated fat but rich in protein and B vitamins 1. Carbohydrates are a nutrient needed by the body in large amounts each day, yet some people limit their carbohydrate intake when they are trying to lose weight. Canned tuna is usually a food included in a low-carbohydrate diet.

Understanding Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are nutrients in foods which provide energy for the body to do physical activity. Harvard University explains carbohydrates as sugar molecules with hydrogen and oxygen molecules linked together in a chain. Carbohydrates are found most abundantly in bread, cereals, pastas, rice, fruits and vegetables.

Types of Carbohydrates

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There are several different types of carbohydrates, with different molecules and different speeds at which the body uses them as energy. For instance, simple carbohydrates, such as fructose or glucose, are short chains of sugars which are used up as energy by the body very quickly, while complex carbohydrates are long chains of sugars which take a long time to digest and absorb.

Canned Tuna Nutrition

Canned tuna, while full of protein and healthy amino acids, does not have any carbohydrates . There are no carbohydrates in canned tuna because tuna is a type of meat and carbohydrates only come from plant products like vegetables and grains. Canned tuna is made up of approximately 94 percent protein and 6 percent fat, according to Nutrition Data.

Canning Process

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Many people know that tuna does not contain any carbohydrates, but some people wonder if any carbohydrates are added during the canning process. During the processes of canning tuna, the fish is simply cooked to soften the meat and then placed in a liquid brine such as water or oil. Since neither water nor oil contain carbohydrates, no carbohydrates are added to tuna during the canning process.

Flavored Varieties

Special flavored varieties of canned tuna, such as sun-dried tomato flavor and garlic-herb flavor, have become more popular in recent days because they are inexpensive like regular tuna, but more flavorful and a change from the mundane flavor of plain tuna. Flavored tuna usually has added carbohydrates from various sauces, herbs and vegetables used. Make sure to compare the nutritional facts with plain tuna before buying a new flavor variety.