All Tuna is Not the Same...Choose Quality

One common misconception is that all canned tuna is the same. While shopping in the tuna aisle, most people gravitate towards products and brands that they’re familiar with, unaware of the different types, flavors, and uses for the different varieties of tuna.

Once you’re aware of the differences, you’ll be able to determine which type of canned tuna best suits the needs for you, your family, and your planned meals.

Okay so what makes ours the best? We can boast that our tuna is wild caught, kosher, and dolphin safe. But full disclosure here... so can all the other leading national brands... So if every canned tuna you see has the same selling points, how can we claim we are the best?

Well....not everything is the same.

2 things.

1. Both of our chunk light tuna and solid white albacore are All Natural. If you read the ingredients of other brands, they include either pyrophosphate or vegetable broth (or both). The product says "Chunk Light Tuna in Water". Why is there vegetable broth? And what is it made of? Is the broth all natural? What chemicals does it have to improve shelf life or coloring? For us, we believe in all natural tuna that gives you what you expect. Tuna, Water, Salt...That's it!

2. Our tuna stays true to what we claim. When we say our product is chunk light, we mean it's chunky! Same goes for our solid tuna, it's actually solid! Other brands; however, are mushy and look like cat food. You've seen them!

Okay awesome, so let's say that you've made the right choice. But now you have some questions about which one to buy. Well we've got you covered below!

Chunk Light

Chunk Light Tuna typically consists of skip jack, but may also include yellow fin, tongol, or big-eye tuna. Polar chunk light only uses skip jack tuna. The meat is darker in color, somewhere between a light tan and a tan-ish pink and is smaller with a flakier texture, similar to chicken thigh. The flavor is stronger in comparison to the flavor of albacore, so it is best used in dishes such as tuna salad, pasta, and casseroles, where the flavor is allowed to shine through and where the texture and small pieces mix easily with other ingredients.

Solid Albacore

Albacore (a.k.a. White Tuna) is a larger fish with lighter colored flesh, firmer texture, and milder flavor than chunk light varieties. It has a texture that’s similar to baked chicken breast and comes in large pieces that flake into hearty chunks, making it perfect on fresh salads, appetizers, and dishes where you want to see large pieces of fish and want the flavors of the dish to stand out.

Why Tuna’s Important

Heart Friendly-

Omega-3 fatty acids help in bringing balance in the blood vessels, reducing cholesterol in the arteries.

Lowers Blood Pressure-

Tuna is rich in potassium, which is known for lowering blood pressure. In combination with Omega-3 fatty acids, potassium brings anti-inflammatory effects to the cardiovascular system, which benefits us by lowering blood pressure and risk of stroke and heart attacks.

Improves Immune System-

Tuna is rich in manganese, zinc, vitamin C, and selenium, which helps in strengthening the immune system. These antioxidants protect us from diseases like cancer by fighting free radicals. Selenium is an antioxidant mineral your body needs in small amounts to combat cellular damage. According to the Office of Dietary Supplements, adult men and women should aim for 55 micro grams of selenium per day. A single serving of canned albacore tuna contains more than 55 micro grams of selenium.

Weight Loss-

Weight is a major issue faced by the majority of people these days. We all like eating tasty foods while striving to maintain a slim figure. Tuna provides a great taste while balancing calories since it’s low in fat content and rich in proteins and nutrients.

Vitamin B-

Tuna contains vitamin B, which is a major component in strengthening bones, making the bones stronger and protecting them from injuries like fracture. The vitamin B complex in tuna helps keep our skin healthy and also contains a protein called elastin which gives a smooth tone to our skin.

Prevents Risk of Cancer-

Antioxidants from the tuna meat fight cancer cells. Studies have shown that regular consumption of tuna helps in eliminating the risk of breast and kidney cancer.

Provides Energy-

Tuna not only improves your metabolism rate but also increases the functionality of your organs which keeps your body energetic, active, and healthy.

Five Healthy Lunchbox Choices for Back to School

Keep your heart healthy with omega-3 in tuna

There are good fats and bad fats, and Omega-3 falls in the category of good fats! Among the main benefits of Omega-3 are its ability to reduce blood pressure, triglycerides, plaque (which can harden your arteries), and prevent blood clots.

Luckily for you, tuna (and other fish) contains a rich abundance of omega-3 fatty acids. Make sure to incorporate these nutritional powerhouses in your lunchbox and meals! Our pouch tuna is a great option to pack in your lunchbox and eat on the go.

Get your protein fix with a serving of salmon

Salmon has many similar benefits to tuna, including being a great source of protein! You might be wondering - why choose fish over meat for protein?

While both contain enough protein to keep you full, the answer lies in the good fat vs. bad fat comparison we made earlier. Compared to red meat, fish contains less of the “bad fats” (saturated and trans fat) that can be harmful to your heart and more of the “good fats” (omega-3) that contributes to your overall health.

So toss in one of our easy-open cans of salmon fillet for a protein-packed lunchbox staple!

Crunch on some all natural coconut chips

If you love coconut, you’ll love coconut chips! Besides the delicious flavor (we’ve got four flavors, by the way) and satisfying crunch, there’s also some great health benefits from coconut.

It’s a rich source of dietary fiber, which keeps you feeling full for longer and stabilizes your blood sugar. As you might know, fiber is also important in helping you get to the #2 every day.

Coconut also contains medium-chain-fatty-acids (MCFAs), which are metabolized and converted to energy rather than being stored as fat. And you’ll definitely need this all-natural energy to keep you focused all day through school and work!

Stay hydrated with coconut water

Don’t get the benefits of coconut chips and coconut water mixed up! While the chips come from the meat of the coconut, the “water” comes from the juice that sits in the hollow core of the fruit.

Coconut water is a plentiful source of electrolytes, which will keep you from getting dehydrated after a hot day or an intense gym workout. You might recognize electrolytes - they’re a big component of sports drinks like Gatorade. With coconut water, you get the same benefits but from an all-natural, delicious source.

So keep a few cans in your fridge and throw them into your backpack or lunchbox for a nice cool, hydrating drink you can enjoy anywhere!

Fight off the bad stuff with antioxidants from black garlic

You probably know garlic, but have you heard of black garlic? Black garlic originated in Asia, and it’s now a rising food trend here in the U.S. It’s created through a natural curing process, giving it a sweet and slightly tangy flavor. No need to worry about garlic breath with these guys - the sharp garlic taste you know is reduced to a mild hint here.

Black garlic is known for its immense health benefits. It's rich in antioxidants (almost twice that of white garlic), amino acids, and S-ally cysteine, a natural compound that is widely believed to be a factor in cancer prevention.

Polar’s Black Garlic comes in single bulbs with an easy peel skin, so it makes for an easy snack at any time of day! If you’re a cook-your-lunch-the-night-before type of person, you can easily incorporate these tasty nuggets into your meal prep. Slice them and add to your sandwich or salad as toppings, or try crushing them into a paste to use for steak rub or barbecue sauce.