Joe Rogan Poisoned Himself by Eating Too Many Sardines

Sardines are beloved by many who consume the tinned fish as a snack or as a briny appetizer with their meal. They're also a great source of protein, making them a go-to choice for men looking to maximize their nutrient intake. 

Podcast host and former kickboxer Joe Rogan is such a fan of sardines that he ate three tins of the stuff every night. But it turns out it began having a negative impact on his health, though initially he couldn't figure out why. 

Rogan opened up about his experience in an interview with Elon Musk on The Joe Rogan Experience. "You can get arsenic from sardines," he said. "I found that out the hard way." His snack of choice became part of his routine when he'd come home late at night from the comedy club and needed something quick and easy to eat. When he revealed just how many tins of canned fish he'd eat every night, Musk could only say in disbelief, "That's a lot of sardines, man."

At first, Rogan believed someone was poisoning him after testing revealed he had elevated levels of arsenic in his blood. When Rogan confessed his sardine habit to his doctor, it was clear what the problem was. He ended up cutting back on his snack routine and his health soon bounced back. "I got my bloodwork done a couple of months later and it was gone," he said.

Past studies have found that sardines can be prone to arsenic contamination, which can present an array of health problems. In one case study, a man in Saudi Arabia learned this firsthand when he began suffering headaches and sensitivity to noise and light after "heavy consumption" of sardines.  

The old adage goes that all things are good in moderation, so you might not develop arsenic poisoning as long as you limit your sardine consumption.