Useful properties of river fish. Sea and river fish, benefits and harm

What types of fish are there, the benefits and harms of fish for the human body, and does it have any medicinal properties? These questions often arise among those who care about their health and show interest in traditional methods of treatment, in particular in treatment with food. And this interest is understandable. Maybe in this article, to some extent, you can get an answer to these questions.

What is healthier to eat - meat or fish? Are all fish healthy and in what cases can eating fish harm us? Which fish is better - river or sea? Which types of cooking fish are preferable and which should be avoided? This will be discussed further.

Fish has been one of the most important foods in the human diet since the very beginning of the human race. Many types of river and sea fish today overflow the windows of our stores. It is sold fresh and frozen, salted, smoked, dried, various canned goods and even sausage are made from it. What are the health benefits of eating fish?

One of the best sources of animal protein for the human body is fish. Eating fish is much more preferable to us than meat.

Its protein contains all the amino acids we need, and, unlike meat, fish contains a large amount of such an important amino acid as methionine.

Fish protein is low in connective tissue and fat (only about 30% in the fattest types), so it is digested faster and easier. Fish is digested in the stomach in 1.5–2 hours, and, for example, beef in 5 hours. The percentage of digestibility of fish by our body is 94–98%, while meat is digestible only by 85–89%.

The calorie content of fish is also less than that of meat. In 100 g of beef you can find more than 160 kcal, and in river fish there are no more than 90 of them.

In addition, fish is a very valuable food product also because it contains a fairly large amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids omega-6 and omega-3 and beta-carotene. These substances participate in intercellular processes and are simply irreplaceable for the body.

Scientists have long noticed that in those countries where fish is the main and daily product on the dinner table, people are much less likely to suffer from cardiovascular diseases, they have almost no cardiac arrhythmia, shortness of breath, they are more active and less tired than “meat eaters.” .

It has been proven that if you eat sea fish at least once every 7 days, the risk of a heart attack is reduced by more than 2 times, and a stroke by 22%! Eating sea fish every day further reduces the likelihood of these diseases!

In addition, regular consumption of fish prevents the occurrence of cancer.

However, this effect is inherent only in fatty sea fish: mackerel, tuna, herring, salmon, sardines and even sprat, and river fish almost does not have it.

Any fish contains many trace elements - magnesium, zinc, potassium, calcium, and especially phosphorus. Sea fish contains a lot of bromine, fluorine and iodine. Fish also contains iron, copper, manganese, sulfur, sodium, selenium and even gold. All types of fish are rich in vitamins B, D, E, and fish liver has a high content of vitamin A.

Fish has long been used in folk medicine as a remedy. Fish glue helped with hemorrhages, fish oil healed wounds, the liver of oily fish relieved eyesores, and tench meat was used to treat gout and fever.

Nowadays, such drugs as compolon, pancreatin, insulin and many, many others are produced from fish.

The benefits of sea fish

Sea fish is useful:

  • to reduce excess weight (it is quite low in calories);
  • for various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (easily absorbed by the stomach);
  • for diseases of the thyroid gland (contains a lot of iodine);
  • has an antitumor effect (due to the high content of vitamins B and E and unsaturated acids);
  • has an anti-inflammatory effect (again, iodine!);
  • has a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system, thereby reducing the risk of strokes and heart attacks (potassium, vitamins B, B1, D, unsaturated acids);
  • improves vision (fish contains a lot of vitamins A and B2);
  • reduces cholesterol levels in the blood (due to the high content of unsaturated acids omega-6, omega-9, vitamins B3 and B12);
  • helps normalize higher nervous activity (contains iodine, calcium, iron, magnesium, B vitamins, omega-3);
  • increases life expectancy.

The benefits of river fish

River fish is less healthy than sea fish, but still preferable to any meat. Among river fish, pike perch, pike, bream and burbot are considered the most delicious and healthy.

The amount of protein and fat varies among different types of river fish. Perch, pike perch and pike have only 1% fat, while in bream, carp and catfish its content is 2.5%.

An interesting fact: in terms of the amount of protein it contains, pike perch is ahead of chicken, and carp is superior to beef!

Fresh fish is the healthiest, so try to eat it whenever possible. Frozen fish is no longer so healthy, and smoked fish can actually be harmful.

During the spawning period, the fish is most useful and nutritious, and during the spawning period it is the most depleted.

River fish also contains a lot of highly beneficial vitamins and minerals. Thus, its meat is an excellent source of provitamin A, tocopherol and vitamin D. Thus, its systematic inclusion in the diet has a positive effect on the condition of the skin and hair, making them healthy. With this diet, the skin becomes smooth, acquires a pleasant natural color and a healthy glow. Vitamin D is necessary to maintain the normal condition of the skeletal system and teeth; it is thanks to its sufficient intake in the body that normal absorption of calcium occurs. This substance helps to achieve rapid recovery from fractures, as well as prevent their occurrence and the development of osteoporosis.

In addition, river fish meat perfectly supports normal vision.

In addition to vitamins, this food product is an excellent source of a number of mineral elements. It contains a significant amount of calcium, iodine, iron, as well as magnesium, phosphorus, zinc and selenium. All of these elements are extremely important for our body. Thus, magnesium in river fish has a positive effect on the activity of the nervous system, eliminating the aggressive effects of stress. Accordingly, eating fish effectively normalizes night sleep and relieves irritability. Zinc, by the way, will be very useful for males, as it plays an important role in normalizing the activity of the reproductive system.

The daily intake of fish is 150–200 g for an adult.

Fish for pancreatitis

Despite all the beneficial qualities, it is necessary to exclude fish oil from the diet of patients with pancreatitis.

It is worth considering that with pancreatitis, even the healthy fat that fish contains has a negative effect on pancreatic cells, creating an increased load for them. The reason for this is the fact that lipase (an enzyme synthesized in the pancreas) is necessary to break down fat. In the acute phase of the disease, the enzymatic activity of the gland is purposefully suppressed, and during remission this enzyme is produced in insufficient quantities.

If the pancreas is inflamed, only certain varieties of sea and river fish can be included in the diet. The main condition for its choice for pancreatitis is the fat content; it is allowed to consume those varieties whose fat content does not exceed 8%.

Low-fat, in turn, can be divided into skinny and moderate-fat. The introduction of fatty fish dishes into the diet of a patient with pancreatitis is unacceptable in the acute stage and extremely undesirable during the period of remission.

Fish diet

Eating fish is a great way to lose weight. Nutritionists say that a fish diet fully meets the basic principles of losing weight. The principle of separate nutrition also makes its contribution, that is, there is pure consumption of proteins without mixing them with other elements. The amount of fats and carbohydrates in the diet will be limited, so the fish diet will be moderately fasting. The best period for a fish diet is winter. It is at this time that the body experiences the strongest need for vitamins, which can be replenished (in particular vitamin D, which fish is rich in), while simultaneously gaining a slim figure. You cannot repeat the diet immediately after finishing it; it is recommended to wait 6-8 weeks.

The basis of the diet, of course, will be fish. Which one should you choose? It is best to give preference to fresh, but it is not forbidden to sometimes cook frozen and include canned fish in the menu. The best dietary fish varieties are pike perch, hake, tuna, flounder, cod, and navaga. Pink salmon and salmon are higher-calorie varieties, but if desired, they can also be included in the menu, provided they are cooked without oil. In general, the best cooking methods are steaming, stewing or grilling. It is better to minimize the consumption of fried fish. And with any cooking method you should try to use less fat. It is also allowed to eat seafood (in the absence of allergies) - squid, mussels, shrimp; fermented milk products, fruits (except bananas) and eggs.

Harm to fish

Like any other food product, fish can, along with its benefits, also cause significant harm to our health.

Some 70–100 years ago, the environmental situation on our planet was completely different. And over the past decades, people have managed to spoil the air, water, and land so much that many food products, unfortunately, have moved from the category of useful to the category of harmful to health. Alas, this circumstance can fully be attributed to fish. Therefore, when eating a particular type of fish, it is first of all advisable to know where it was caught. Fish from ecologically polluted regions is also contaminated with various kinds of toxins and wastes, which easily enter the body of the person who eats such fish. It would never occur to us to drink water from such a dirty reservoir, but we often do not think about the harm that fish caught in it can cause to our body!

According to statistics from the US Department of Health, saltwater fish and seafood are the most common cause of all food poisoning and rank first on this sad list every year!

Such poisoning, in addition to feeling unwell, diarrhea, vomiting and headaches, can lead to disruption of the human kidneys and nervous system, and in severe cases, to death.

We all know what a terrible impression our rivers and lakes sometimes make on us. Oceans and seas, unfortunately, are no exception to this rule. During its life, sea fish, like a sponge, accumulates salts of heavy metals, lead, mercury, arsenic, radioactive cesium, and other chemical elements that are very harmful to health.

Fish grown in special artificial reservoirs, despite the fact that they live in clean water, can also pose a threat to our health. This is due to the fact that such fish, as a rule, are treated with food made from waste from the same fish production, which contains plenty of harmful substances.

The larger and older the fish, the more harmful substances it contains, so small fish are more preferable for our diet than large species of fish. The meat of shark, swordfish, king mackerel, giant mackerel, lofolatilus and some types of tuna is considered to be the most harmful.

The least mercury and its compounds are found in salmon, pollock, whitefish, catfish, light tuna (this is the type used in the preparation of canned fish) and shrimp.

Mercury and its compounds are the strongest poison for the human body, and in addition, they have the ability to accumulate in it and cause incurable diseases, including cancer.

Symptoms of mercury poisoning can include depression, fatigue, inability to concentrate, headaches and hair loss.

Few people know that fish is the only source of mercury entering our body and there is no mercury in other food products!

Tuna may contain a special, potent fish poison called ciguatera, which can cause severe poisoning.

In many European countries, tuna and canned tuna are prohibited for consumption during pregnancy at the official state level!

During this period, pink salmon, nelma, beluga, chinook salmon, navaga, pollock, and hake, which is so common in our country, are also considered dangerous to the health of the expectant mother.

Smoked fish also causes a lot of harm to our body. Carcinogens that form in it during the smoking process provoke the development of various types of cancer. The greatest danger in this regard is fish prepared by hot smoking, especially those made not in industrial conditions, but in an artisanal way over a fire.

Cold smoked fish is less dangerous, although it is not recommended to eat it more than once every 10 days, but there is no need to talk about its any benefits at all.

Today, very often, unscrupulous manufacturers generally replace the process of smoking fish by soaking it in so-called liquid smoke, which in its essence is nothing more than tar. And although such fish in its appearance and taste are practically no different from smoked fish, the harm from eating it increases tenfold!

Share the article with your friends on social networks!

More on the same topic:

High-quality and nutritious nutrition directly affects human health and well-being. It is necessary to regularly eat vegetables, fruits, meat products, grains and fish products. Each of these products has its own effect on the human body, and in addition to satiation, performs its function even at the cellular level. Fish is a product that is highly recommended to eat at least 2 times a week. In this article, we will look into exactly why eating freshwater fish, that is, those that live in lakes and rivers, is beneficial.

What are the benefits of river and lake fish?

Fish meat is rich in easily digestible proteins; it is not only a dietary food, but also an extremely healthy product. Protein is necessary for the growth of the body and for the creation of new tissues, in particular muscle tissue. The proteins contained in fish are necessary for athletes, people with increased physical activity, as well as for those who want to get rid of accumulated extra pounds.

By the way, it also makes sense for those losing weight to include river fish in their diet, as it activates the processes of burning subcutaneous fat, even if the fish itself is very fatty.

Fish contains quite a large amount of vitamins such as A, D, and tocopherol. Eating freshwater fish has a positive effect on the condition of hair, skin, bones, teeth, and vision.

Freshwater fish also contains a number of microelements, such as calcium, magnesium, iodine, zinc, iron, phosphorus and selenium. For our body, this is an incredible storehouse of useful substances, because thanks to them, the heart muscle is strengthened, brain function and memory are optimized, stressful conditions are neutralized, sleep improves, and the immune system is strengthened.

Eating river fish reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, thrombosis and even cancer.

Lean fish soup and steamed fish will benefit people suffering from gastritis.

The difference in taste between freshwater fish is that sea fish has a specific smell that not everyone likes.

Why should you be careful with river fish?

Also, the quality and beneficial properties of fish can undoubtedly be negatively affected by its habitat. Fish is capable of accumulating heavy metals and other dangerous substances, therefore, in order for the fish consumed as food to prolong life and improve health, you should carefully choose this product when purchasing.

Everyone has a need for protein foods, but many people prefer to fill their diet with different varieties of fish instead of meat. For those who are close to food such as fish, its benefits and harms should be known.

Healthy fish

What exactly are the benefits of fish?

Diet specialists and experts on the mechanisms of how different foods affect the body have always emphasized the mandatory consumption of fish and all kinds of seafood. Thanks to fish in our diet, the body gains the opportunity to be healthier, this happens by improving the natural regulation of fat in the blood, and also by effectively controlling blood pressure. If you consume sufficient amounts of fish dishes, then at the same time diabetes is prevented, the likelihood of headaches is reduced, joints become healthier, and arthritis processes are alleviated. The high concentration of fatty acids called omega-3 allows the blood to be properly thinned, which is a natural barrier to the formation of blood clots. Fish in general cannot be called a fatty product, since it is known that the fattest types contain about 25-30% fat, which is easily digestible. Everyone needs to understand that the fish we eat, or more precisely, the protein from this product, is processed and completely digested in just one and a half, maximum two hours. If you eat beef, the body will absorb it for about five hours. It wouldn’t hurt to know some more interesting data: one hundred grams of beef contains protein (19%), fats (9.5%), carbohydrates (0.4%), the caloric value here is 166 units. For comparison, we present similar characteristics of a hundred-gram portion of river fish, which contains protein (15.9%), fats (2.5%), a small percentage of carbohydrates (0.1%), here the calorie content is equal to 91 units.

The benefits of sea fish

Connoisseurs of sea fish dishes get a large amount of useful substances. This is lysine, the amino acid taurine, fatty acids with a polyunsaturated composition - this is omega-3. This also includes methionine, tryptophan, a number of vitamins, such as A, D, F, E. It should also be noted that these dietary fish include many minerals, including magnesium, manganese, fluorine, zinc, lithium, boron, calcium , bromine, iodine, phosphorus, iron, copper. For people who include a 100-gram portion of sea fish in their diet every day, the risk of developing cardiovascular pathologies is much lower. In general, everything that sea fish brings to health is beneficial, and harm is practically excluded here; it can only occur due to the low quality of the product.

The benefits of river fish

River fish, available to us in the freshest form, is significantly cheaper than sea fish. Together with this product, the body is saturated with many useful microelements, the supply of proteins is replenished, and they are easily digested.

Salmonidae

The salmon family includes the following fish species: trout, salmon, chum salmon, and pink salmon. It is believed that with frequent consumption of these types of fish, the aging process is inhibited, the prevention of diseases of the cardiovascular system is achieved, and visual acuity increases. Elderly people need the substances included in the red salmon pulp.

Fish: can bring benefits and harm

cod

The cod family includes burbot, cod, haddock, pollock, and hake. It is cod that are famous for their best dietary qualities. Pregnant women should eat the following types of fish. Everyone benefits from cod fish liver. Fish from this family are rich in proteins, phosphorus, vitamins, and calcium.

Perch

A low-fat product suitable for dietary purposes is fish from the perch family, which includes: perch, pike perch. This fish is rich in microelements and proteins. Sea bass is healthy to eat due to its high content of the amino acid taurine, a large amount of minerals, and the presence of vitamin B.

Carp

The carp family includes the carp itself, as well as the popular fish crucian carp. These types of fish are taken to relieve thyroid diseases. Substances included in fish have a positive effect on the musculoskeletal system, mucous membranes and skin.

Herrings

Fish: herring, sardine, belonging to the herring family, are saturated with easily digestible fat by 33%. From this food product you can get significant doses of vitamins A, D, E and many microelements.

Pike

When eating pike, the body receives doses of a natural antiseptic. Regular consumption of pike fish helps to resist infections and viruses. Low-calorie pike is positioned as a dietary product, containing only 3% fat.

In what cases is fish unhealthy?

Regarding sea fish, it should be rightly noted that the average consumer has a low chance of finding a truly high-quality product among frozen foods. Repeated freezing and thawing provokes a complete loss of nutrients.

Lovers of river fish should be extremely careful with it due to the fact that it is considered less pure, unlike sea fish. This statement was born from the characteristics of its habitat, which is prone to pollution, damage by heavy metals, saturation with radionuclides, and pesticides, which naturally extends to local living beings.

It has been noticed that among the fish sold in modern retail outlets, a considerable percentage of the product is grown with the participation of hormonal drugs. Farmed fish often have an unnatural pale tint, which is why artificially colored fish are available on sale. It is clear that these measures do not add usefulness to the product.

It happens that dangerous mercury, various radioactive substances, harmful metals, and organochlorine compounds are found in marine and freshwater fish. The carcinogenic effect of these substances on the body cannot imply any benefit.

Unfortunately, the aquatic part of the planet is saturated with a significant amount of pollution, so determining the safety or usefulness of fish can be difficult. The characteristics of fish as a food product completely depend on the conditions of its keeping and the cleanliness of this environment.

If fish is eaten, both benefits and harm may well be obtained from it. Therefore, it will not hurt to develop a valuable habit - to treat any type of fish with extreme caution and purchase these products where the likelihood of their freshness and quality is higher.

Nutritionists strongly recommend including fish, in particular the river variety, in your daily diet. The category includes pike and carp, silver carp, bream with pike perch, carp and sterlet, trout, crucian carp and other species living in river and lake reservoirs.

Beneficial features

100 g of river fish contains only 90 kcal, so the product falls into the dietary category. The proteins that the human body receives from tender fillets are easily digested and converted into protein, so the dishes are recommended for athletes who want to build a beautiful, toned body without fat deposits.

River fish is rich in vitamin D, which is necessary for the body to absorb calcium, a substance that strengthens bones and teeth. The substance accelerates bone healing during fractures, prevents the development of osteoporosis, and is useful for pregnant women to strengthen teeth.

Vitamin A, combined with omega-3 fats, which are also present in fish, improves visual acuity and rejuvenates the skin from the inside, improving its appearance. Fine wrinkles disappear, a healthy shine appears and the tone is evened out.

The river product supplies the body with methionine - a substance that not only reduces cholesterol levels, prevents fat deposits and increases tone, but is also considered an excellent prevention of Parkinson's.

Zinc is an essential substance that can normalize the functioning of the male genital organs and significantly improve the quality of sexual life.

Magnesium is a trace element that reduces nervous tension, protects a person from the negative effects of stress and normalizes sleep. Aggression and irritability disappear, and overall well-being improves.

Components of river fish strengthen the walls of blood vessels, reduce the likelihood of cancer problems and normalize blood sugar.

The carp family is recommended to be included in the diet for diseases of the thyroid gland. Substances present in carp and crucian carp have a beneficial effect on mucous membranes and improve the condition of the skin, helping to fight dermatological diseases.

Pike is not just a dietary product, containing only 3% fat, but also an excellent antiseptic that increases the resistance of the immune system to viral and infectious attacks.

How harmful is river fish?

River fish live in a more polluted environment, so particles of heavy metals, pesticides and radionuclides can accumulate in the tender meat.

The product requires careful heat treatment to prevent infection with worms.

Fish can cause allergic reactions in children, so it is introduced into children’s diets with caution.

Fish is a product that brings enormous benefits to our health. It is not without reason that all nutritionists in the world agree that without fish, the diet will not be sufficiently complete and healthy, and this product should definitely be consumed at least once a week.

Seafood has richest vitamin and mineral composition In addition, they are record holders for the content of some elements necessary for humans (for example, phosphorus and numerous fatty acids). And, of course, fish prepared according to the correct recipe is a real delicacy for gourmets.

What else is this product good for our health, what is its potential harm and what should we remember when using it?

Fish - basic product information

Since ancient times, seafood has formed the basis of the diet of many peoples of the world. For example, fish is an integral element of Japanese and Mediterranean cuisines; they also love and know how to cook this product in numerous island countries.

There are incredibly many types of fish, and this has allowed people to develop many recipes for its preparation.

As you know, its taste and, often, its appearance depend on the habitat of the fish. The most famous inhabitants of rivers and lakes (that is, fresh water bodies) are, for example: perch, pike perch, pike, catfish, trout, grayling, burbot, tuna, sterlet, mackerel, carp and many others. It is widely believed that river fish is healthier for our body.

Beneficial features

Let's take a closer look at the benefits of seafood for our health:

  • Perhaps the healthiest thing about fish meat is presence of polyunsaturated fatty acids, which the body can only receive from the outside: Omega-3 and Omega-6. These substances are necessary for the normal functioning of the brain, endocrine system and eye health. They also participate in cell function and normalize cholesterol levels in the body.
  • Fats, which seafood is rich in, also have an extremely beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system. They strengthen and “clean” blood vessels from harmful substances, improve blood circulation in the body and activate nutrition of all organs and tissues.
  • Research has proven that regular consumption of seafood can significantly reduce the risk of heart disease: heart attacks, strokes, arrhythmias, as well as vascular diseases (varicose veins, thrombosis).
  • Fish, as is known, main source of phosphorus. This element has a strengthening effect on the body, improves the condition of bone tissue, activates growth, and also stimulates mental activity.
  • The inhabitants of reservoirs are also record holders for the content iodine. Iodine is necessary for normal functioning of the thyroid gland, regulation of hormonal levels and acceleration of metabolism.
  • Fish is rich in nutrients and various minerals; it contains a lot of calcium, zinc, magnesium, fluorine, iron and manganese.
  • Seafood contains many elements that are especially beneficial for women, for example, selenium, natural fats, as well as vitamins E. All these substances have a beneficial effect on women's health, improve the condition of hair and nails, and transform the skin.
  • Fish can serve complete source of protein. Some nutritionists believe that a fish product is even preferable to meat for humans, since it is absorbed by the body better and does not put as much strain on the digestive system.
  • Eating seafood serves as an excellent prevention of eye diseases, because they contain a lot of vitamin A, necessary for good vision.
  • Fish (especially types such as mackerel, halibut, sturgeon) rich in fats, which is especially useful for people who are underweight or women who have problems with the reproductive system.
  • And, of course, it is worth mentioning taste qualities of seafood. Fish has an amazing variety of flavors, there are many ways to prepare it, so even the most demanding gourmet will be satisfied.

  1. To get the maximum benefit from fish, you should only consume fresh, unspoiled product with a normal shelf life.
  2. A spoiled product can be distinguished by several characteristics. Among them: gills - in fresh fish they will be red, in old or spoiled fish they will be dark or gray.
  3. Good, edible fish is distinguished by the elasticity of its flesh. Pressing with your finger will not leave any dents in the fish flesh.
  4. Healthy inhabitants of reservoirs have a clean, light belly, but spoiled fish often have a yellow belly.
  5. Remember that if the product has been frozen several times, it has already lost most of its beneficial properties and is not suitable for consumption.

Conclusion

It is impossible to achieve good health and ideal appearance without eating fish. Be sure to cook this product at least once a week, but carefully follow the rules for preparing fish dishes so that your dinner is not overshadowed by poisoning.

Proper nutrition is the key to good health for many years. It is difficult to imagine a well-designed weekly menu without fish. The benefits of fish were noted many centuries ago, so the tradition came to us - one day a week it is mandatory to eat fish (the famous “fish day”).

Useful properties of fish

Fish fillet is a source of easily digestible protein, microelements, vitamins, but the most valuable thing in fish is fat, which consists of polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega 3 and omega 6) and is completely absorbed by the body.

When talking about the benefits of fish, it is worth focusing on which fish is healthier: river or sea. River fish or fish from freshwater bodies have lower protein and fat content, and lack iodine and bromine, which are always present in sea and ocean fish.

The benefits of fish caught from the depths of the sea are undoubtedly greater than the benefits of fish caught from the nearest river.

Sea fish, in addition to being rich in iodine and bromine, saturates our body with phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, sodium, sulfur, fluorine, copper, iron, zinc, manganese, cobalt, molybdenum. The range of vitamins contained in sea fish fillets is significant; these include B vitamins (B 1, B 2, B 6, B 12), vitamin PP, H, in small quantities vitamin C, as well as fat-soluble vitamins A and D.

The benefits of fish are as follows:

Saturation of the body with high-quality protein;

Normalization of blood clotting function;

Reducing blood cholesterol;

Normalization of thyroid function and prevention of its diseases;

Improved vision;

Normalization of the nervous system, improvement of memory, sleep, reduction of irritability;

Increased life expectancy;

Improving the condition of skin, hair, nails, bones and teeth;

Normalization of metabolism;

Helps prevent cardiovascular diseases and strengthen the cardiovascular system

Fish does not lead to weight gain, even fatty fish, due to its unsaturated fatty acids, does not contribute to weight gain and when consumed you can lose weight, so nutritionists often advise those losing weight to eat boiled or baked fish.

The benefits of herring

The most famous and beloved herring, however, just like any other fish, contains all the main beneficial qualities of fish meat. However, herring has another undeniable advantage - it is inexpensive.

Herring meat contains a large amount of iodine compounds, and fish oil contains almost a third of its mass. There is a pattern - the further north the herring is caught, the fattier it is.

In addition, this fish is useful for containing a large number of microelements. If you start listing them, you will have to name the lion's share of those that make up Mendeleev's periodic table. The calorie content of 100 grams of herring is 250 kcal. There is no need to even talk about taste. Herring is salted, pickled, fried - absolutely all culinary methods are suitable.

Dried and dried fish

The benefits of eating dried fish have long been proven by scientists around the world. The main merit of the benefits of fish lies in the content of polyunsaturated omega-3 acids in its composition.

Destruction of cancer cells. Omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in dried and dried fish, play an important role in reducing the risk of cancer formation, in particular of the lungs, breast, prostate and colon. There are only three types of omega-3s, two of which come from seafood. Research has proven that eating such fish in your diet will help reduce the risk or slow down the development of cancer cells.

Prevents depression in pregnant women. By consuming dried or dried fish during pregnancy and after delivery, you can protect your already precarious state from depression. A deficiency in fatty acids can reduce the level of serotonin, which is found in brain tissue, to a minimum, which leads to depression.

Prevention of senile dementia. French scientists were able to come to the conclusion that eating dried fish will also help in the fight against the occurrence of Alzheimer's disease and senile dementia. Older adults who eat dried fish or other dried seafood twice a week will reduce their risk of Alzheimer's disease and senile dementia by 35%.

Will prevent heart attack. Research conducted by American scientists claims that eating dried fish twice a week will reduce the risk of death from a heart attack by 45%. The studies were conducted among patients with an average age of 72 years.

Reduces the risk of premature birth. Having examined about 9,000 pregnant women, scientists from Denmark concluded: when a pregnant woman’s diet lacks dried fish, this will significantly increase the risk of premature delivery and the birth of a low-weight baby. The culprit for this is a lack of omega-3 fatty acids, which such fish or fish oil contains.

Protects against heart diseases. Scientists from the UK have found that omega-3 fats can counteract the accumulation of fatty deposits in blood vessels. Such fatty deposits can block the movement of blood on its way to the heart and brain.

Anti-wrinkle. If the menu regularly includes fatty fish, this will also significantly help in the fight against skin aging. The aging process becomes much faster if there is a deficiency of protein in the body, and omega-3 fatty acids, which are present in fish, can compensate for this deficiency.

Impact on a child's sleep. A child who was born by a woman who consumes sufficient quantities of dried and dried fish, rich in fatty acids, will sleep much more soundly and calmly in the first days of life than others. Omega-3 fats take an active part in the development of a child's brain. As a conclusion, it is very important for any pregnant woman to receive these much-needed acids in her diet in the required quantities.

Benefits of perch

Perch can be either sea or river. Perch meat is tender and there is little of it; there are few bones in the fish. Good in any form, but best fried or boiled. Diet fish. When frozen, all beneficial qualities are preserved.

Good for skin and mucous membranes.

Regulates blood sugar levels.

Antioxidant.

Contains phosphorus in large quantities.

Good for the digestive system.

Has a beneficial effect on the nervous system.

Pike perch and its benefits

The meat of this fish has a good effect on metabolic protein-carbohydrate processes, reducing the total cholesterol content and thereby reducing the risk of blockage of blood vessels.

A large amount of PP vitamins helps normalize the functioning of the nervous system and brain function, increase visual acuity and rejuvenate the skin.

The biochemical composition of pike perch meat helps the digestive and cardiovascular systems, regulates the functioning of the adrenal glands and thyroid gland. It is rich in iodine, which is necessary for the mental development and normal growth of the child, as well as for the normal formation and development of the gonads in adolescence.

For the growth and healthy condition of bone tissue, normal joint function, pike perch is useful as a source of fluorine and phosphorus.

Potassium helps the heart muscle function normally, removes excess fluid from the body, thereby preventing swelling.

The sulfur contained in pike perch is useful for the musculoskeletal system, for healthy nails and hair.

Vitamins A, C, B, E, amino acids, manganese, nickel, iron, zinc, copper, magnesium, calcium prevent the development of allergies, diabetes, heart and vascular diseases, promote rapid bone restoration in case of injury and prevent the occurrence of caries.

It's hard to believe, but it's all in the meat of one fish!

Useful properties of crucian carp

100 grams of crucian carp meat contains 9.1 g of protein, 1.25 g of fat, 0.05 g of carbohydrates. It is very rich in vitamins B 12 and D, as well as minerals. 50 g of meat contains 51 calories.

Fish meat is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids known as omega-3, which are essential for our body. Freshwater crucian carp in their number reaches the level of ocean fish. Crucian carp meat from the pond is easily digestible than fish from the ocean and contains half as many calories (50g of meat contains only 51 kcal), which is especially valuable for people who are overweight.

Omega-3 fatty acids have important anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic properties, preventing the occurrence of arrhythmia and atherosclerosis. They also play an important role in many cellular processes that are associated with lipid metabolism. Substances contained in crucian carp meat play an important role in the neuropsychic system and have a beneficial effect on psychomotor development. They help prevent cardiovascular diseases, detect immune system disorders, Crohn's disease, breast cancer and prostate cancer. Crucian carp meat activates blood circulation.

Benefits of pike

The beneficial properties of pike can be seen with the naked eye; you just need to see the chemical composition of the fish, which is replete with a high content of substances necessary for the human body. Vitamins A, B, folic acid, choline, as well as magnesium, phosphorus, sodium, selenium and manganese, these elements are the main benefits of pike. Nutritionists have long turned their attention to pike meat, which is often used in low-calorie or protein diets.

The main beneficial property of pike for all adherents of a healthy diet is that the fish contains a very tiny amount of fat (1%). The benefit of pike for a balanced diet also lies in the fact that the fish contains a large amount of natural protein, which is perfectly absorbed by the body and saturates it with useful micro- and macroelements.

The obvious benefits of fish in a person’s life are good health, strong immunity, sound and carefree sleep. You don’t need to buy expensive medications to prolong your life and heal, just eat right. Fish will help you with this; its diet is varied. With a large selection of dishes, you are sure to find something for yourself.

Sep-12-2016

What types of fish are there, the benefits and harms of fish for the human body, and does it have any medicinal properties? These questions often arise among those who care about their health and show interest in traditional methods of treatment, in particular in treatment with food. And this interest is understandable. Maybe in this article, to some extent, you can get an answer to these questions.

What is healthier to eat - meat or fish? Are all fish healthy and in what cases can eating fish harm us? Which fish is better - river or sea? Which types of cooking fish are preferable and which should be avoided? This will be discussed further.

Fish has been one of the most important foods in the human diet since the very beginning of the human race. Many types of river and sea fish today overflow the windows of our stores. It is sold fresh and frozen, salted, smoked, dried, various canned goods and even sausage are made from it. What are the health benefits of eating fish?

One of the best sources of animal protein for the human body is fish. Eating fish is much more preferable to us than meat.

Its protein contains all the amino acids we need, and, unlike meat, fish contains a large amount of such an important amino acid as methionine.

Fish protein is low in connective tissue and fat (only about 30% in the fattest types), so it is digested faster and easier. Fish is digested in the stomach in 1.5–2 hours, and, for example, beef in 5 hours. The percentage of digestibility of fish by our body is 94–98%, while meat is digestible only by 85–89%.

The calorie content of fish is also less than that of meat. In 100 g of beef you can find more than 160 kcal, and in river fish there are no more than 90 of them.

In addition, fish is a very valuable food product also because it contains a fairly large amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids omega-6 and omega-3 and beta-carotene. These substances participate in intercellular processes and are simply irreplaceable for the body.

Scientists have long noticed that in those countries where fish is the main and daily product on the dinner table, people are much less likely to suffer from cardiovascular diseases, they have almost no cardiac arrhythmia, shortness of breath, they are more active and less tired than “meat eaters.” .

It has been proven that if you eat sea fish at least once every 7 days, the risk of a heart attack is reduced by more than 2 times, and a stroke by 22%! Eating sea fish every day further reduces the likelihood of these diseases!

In addition, regular consumption of fish prevents the occurrence of cancer.

However, this effect is inherent only in fatty sea fish: mackerel, tuna, herring, salmon, sardines and even sprat, and river fish almost does not have it.

Any fish contains many trace elements - magnesium, zinc, potassium, calcium, and especially phosphorus. Sea fish contains a lot of bromine, fluorine and iodine. Fish also contains iron, copper, manganese, sulfur, sodium, selenium and even gold. All types of fish are rich in vitamins B, D, E, and fish liver has a high content of vitamin A.

Fish has long been used in folk medicine as a remedy. Fish glue helped with hemorrhages, fish oil healed wounds, the liver of oily fish relieved eyesores, and tench meat was used to treat gout and fever.

Nowadays, such drugs as compolon, pancreatin, insulin and many, many others are produced from fish.

The benefits of sea fish

Sea fish is useful:

  • to reduce excess weight (it is quite low in calories);
  • for various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (easily absorbed by the stomach);
  • for diseases of the thyroid gland (contains a lot of iodine);
  • has an antitumor effect (due to the high content of vitamins B and E and unsaturated acids);
  • has an anti-inflammatory effect (again, iodine!);
  • has a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system, thereby reducing the risk of strokes and heart attacks (potassium, vitamins B, B1, D, unsaturated acids);
  • improves vision (fish contains a lot of vitamins A and B2);
  • reduces cholesterol levels in the blood (due to the high content of unsaturated acids omega-6, omega-9, vitamins B3 and B12);
  • helps normalize higher nervous activity (contains iodine, calcium, iron, magnesium, B vitamins, omega-3);
  • increases life expectancy.

The benefits of river fish

River fish is less healthy than sea fish, but still preferable to any meat. Among river fish, pike perch, pike, bream and burbot are considered the most delicious and healthy.

The amount of protein and fat varies among different types of river fish. Perch, pike perch and pike have only 1% fat, while in bream, carp and catfish its content is 2.5%.

An interesting fact: in terms of the amount of protein it contains, pike perch is ahead of chicken, and carp is superior to beef!

Fresh fish is the healthiest, so try to eat it whenever possible. Frozen fish is no longer so healthy, and smoked fish can actually be harmful.

During the spawning period, the fish is most useful and nutritious, and during the spawning period it is the most depleted.

River fish also contains a lot of highly beneficial vitamins and minerals. Thus, its meat is an excellent source of provitamin A, tocopherol and vitamin D. Thus, its systematic inclusion in the diet has a positive effect on the condition of the skin and hair, making them healthy. With this diet, the skin becomes smooth, acquires a pleasant natural color and a healthy glow. Vitamin D is necessary to maintain the normal condition of the skeletal system and teeth; it is thanks to its sufficient intake in the body that normal absorption of calcium occurs. This substance helps to achieve rapid recovery from fractures, as well as prevent their occurrence and the development of osteoporosis.

In addition, river fish meat perfectly supports normal vision.

In addition to vitamins, this food product is an excellent source of a number of mineral elements. It contains a significant amount of calcium, iodine, iron, as well as magnesium, phosphorus, zinc and selenium. All of these elements are extremely important for our body. Thus, magnesium in river fish has a positive effect on the activity of the nervous system, eliminating the aggressive effects of stress. Accordingly, eating fish effectively normalizes night sleep and relieves irritability. Zinc, by the way, will be very useful for males, as it plays an important role in normalizing the activity of the reproductive system.

The daily intake of fish is 150–200 g for an adult.

Fish for pancreatitis

Despite all the beneficial qualities, it is necessary to exclude fish oil from the diet of patients with pancreatitis.

It is worth considering that with pancreatitis, even the healthy fat that fish contains has a negative effect on pancreatic cells, creating an increased load for them. The reason for this is the fact that lipase (an enzyme synthesized in the pancreas) is necessary to break down fat. In the acute phase of the disease, the enzymatic activity of the gland is purposefully suppressed, and during remission this enzyme is produced in insufficient quantities.

If the pancreas is inflamed, only certain varieties of sea and river fish can be included in the diet. The main condition for its choice for pancreatitis is the fat content; it is allowed to consume those varieties whose fat content does not exceed 8%.

Low-fat, in turn, can be divided into skinny and moderate-fat. The introduction of fatty fish dishes into the diet of a patient with pancreatitis is unacceptable in the acute stage and extremely undesirable during the period of remission.

Fish diet

Eating fish is a great way to lose weight. Nutritionists say that a fish diet fully meets the basic principles of losing weight. The principle of separate nutrition also makes its contribution, that is, there is pure consumption of proteins without mixing them with other elements. The amount of fats and carbohydrates in the diet will be limited, so the fish diet will be moderately fasting. The best period for a fish diet is winter. It is at this time that the body experiences the strongest need for vitamins, which can be replenished (in particular vitamin D, which fish is rich in), while simultaneously gaining a slim figure. You cannot repeat the diet immediately after finishing it; it is recommended to wait 6-8 weeks.

The basis of the diet, of course, will be fish. Which one should you choose? It is best to give preference to fresh, but it is not forbidden to sometimes cook frozen and include canned fish in the menu. The best dietary fish varieties are pike perch, hake, tuna, flounder, cod, and navaga. Pink salmon and salmon are higher-calorie varieties, but if desired, they can also be included in the menu, provided they are cooked without oil. In general, the best cooking methods are steaming, stewing or grilling. It is better to minimize the consumption of fried fish. And with any cooking method you should try to use less fat. It is also allowed to eat seafood (in the absence of allergies) - squid, mussels, shrimp; fermented milk products, fruits (except bananas) and eggs.

Harm to fish

Like any other food product, fish can, along with its benefits, also cause significant harm to our health.

Some 70–100 years ago, the environmental situation on our planet was completely different. And over the past decades, people have managed to spoil the air, water, and land so much that many food products, unfortunately, have moved from the category of useful to the category of harmful to health. Alas, this circumstance can fully be attributed to fish. Therefore, when eating a particular type of fish, it is first of all advisable to know where it was caught. Fish from ecologically polluted regions is also contaminated with various kinds of toxins and wastes, which easily enter the body of the person who eats such fish. It would never occur to us to drink water from such a dirty reservoir, but we often do not think about the harm that fish caught in it can cause to our body!

According to statistics from the US Department of Health, saltwater fish and seafood are the most common cause of all food poisoning and rank first on this sad list every year!

Such poisoning, in addition to feeling unwell, diarrhea, vomiting and headaches, can lead to disruption of the human kidneys and nervous system, and in severe cases, to death.

We all know what a terrible impression our rivers and lakes sometimes make on us. Oceans and seas, unfortunately, are no exception to this rule. During its life, sea fish, like a sponge, accumulates salts of heavy metals, lead, mercury, arsenic, radioactive cesium, and other chemical elements that are very harmful to health.

Fish grown in special artificial reservoirs, despite the fact that they live in clean water, can also pose a threat to our health. This is due to the fact that such fish, as a rule, are treated with food made from waste from the same fish production, which contains plenty of harmful substances.

The larger and older the fish, the more harmful substances it contains, so small fish are more preferable for our diet than large species of fish. The meat of shark, swordfish, king mackerel, giant mackerel, lofolatilus and some types of tuna is considered to be the most harmful.

The least mercury and its compounds are found in salmon, pollock, whitefish, catfish, light tuna (this is the type used in the preparation of canned fish) and shrimp.

Mercury and its compounds are the strongest poison for the human body, and in addition, they have the ability to accumulate in it and cause incurable diseases, including cancer.

Symptoms of mercury poisoning can include depression, fatigue, inability to concentrate, headaches and hair loss.

Few people know that fish is the only source of mercury entering our body and there is no mercury in other food products!

Tuna may contain a special, potent fish poison called ciguatera, which can cause severe poisoning.

In many European countries, tuna and canned tuna are prohibited for consumption during pregnancy at the official state level!

During this period, pink salmon, nelma, beluga, chinook salmon, navaga, pollock, and hake, which is so common in our country, are also considered dangerous to the health of the expectant mother.

Smoked fish also causes a lot of harm to our body. Carcinogens that form in it during the smoking process provoke the development of various types of cancer. The greatest danger in this regard is fish prepared by hot smoking, especially those made not in industrial conditions, but in an artisanal way over a fire.

Cold smoked fish is less dangerous, although it is not recommended to eat it more than once every 10 days, but there is no need to talk about its any benefits at all.

Today, very often, unscrupulous manufacturers generally replace the process of smoking fish by soaking it in so-called liquid smoke, which in its essence is nothing more than tar. And although such fish in its appearance and taste are practically no different from smoked fish, the harm from eating it increases tenfold!

Proper nutrition is the key to good health for many years. It is difficult to imagine a well-designed weekly menu without fish. The benefits of fish were noted many centuries ago, so the tradition came to us - one day a week it is mandatory to eat fish (the famous “fish day”).

Fish fillet is a source of easily digestible protein, microelements, vitamins, but the most valuable thing in fish is fat, which consists of polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega 3 and omega 6) and is completely absorbed by the body.

When talking about the benefits of fish, it is worth focusing on which fish is healthier: river or sea. River fish or fish from freshwater bodies have lower protein and fat content, and lack iodine and bromine, which are always present in sea and ocean fish.

The benefits of fish caught from the depths of the sea are undoubtedly greater than the benefits of fish caught from the nearest river. Sea fish, in addition to being rich in iodine and bromine, saturates our body with phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, sodium, sulfur, fluorine, copper, iron, zinc, manganese, cobalt, molybdenum. The range of vitamins contained in sea fish fillets is significant; these include B vitamins (B1, B2, B6, B12), vitamin PP, H, in small quantities, as well as fat-soluble vitamins A and D.

Why is it good to eat fish?

Fish (not only fillet, but also liver) saturates the body with the most valuable fatty acids, linoleic and archidonic acids (the famous and omega 6), they are part of the brain cells and are a building material for cell membranes. Omega 6 also reduces the level of harmful cholesterol in the blood, minimizes the risk of developing atherosclerosis, which has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the circulatory and cardiovascular systems.

For the endocrine system, in particular for the successful functioning of the thyroid gland, it is extremely useful, which is rich in sea fish. For your information, 200 g of mackerel contains the daily requirement of iodine, in a form that is completely absorbed by the body.