Are you concerned about your body? In fact, fish, a familiar food in Japan, contains plenty of nutrients that our bodies need. It is said that the frequent consumption of fish by Japanese people is one of the reasons why Japanese people are so healthy.
So in this article, we will discuss what benefits fish has for our bodies. Knowing the health benefits of fish, we encourage you to increase the number of fish dishes on your dinner table.
Fish is a treasure trove of nutrients
Why is fish good for us?
Fish oil is a treasure trove of nutrients, rich in the unsaturated fatty acids DHA and EPA. Fish meat is also full of calcium, vitamins, taurine, and other things your body needs. Let’s take a closer look.
Calcium: used to transmit information in cells as well as being a material for bones and teeth.
Vitamins: regulate body functions. Different vitamins have different effects.
Taurine: In addition to lowering cholesterol and neutral fat and normalizing blood pressure, taurine is said to strengthen the liver’s detoxification function, prevent diabetes, restore eyesight, and promote brain development in babies.
EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid): Fish oil (unsaturated fatty acid), said to be effective in lowering cholesterol and neutral fat and preventing the formation of blood clots.
DHA: Like EPA, DHA is an unsaturated fatty acid. In addition to the function of EPA, it is said to be effective in enhancing memory learning ability and brain development of growing infants.
Diseases that can be expected to be prevented with fish
Lifestyle disease
Eating too much fatty food increases the risk of lifestyle-related diseases. One reason for this is that beef and pork fat (saturated fatty acids) solidifies at room temperature and tends to clog capillaries. In contrast, fish oil (unsaturated fatty acids) does not solidify at room temperature and can exist in liquid form when it enters the human body.
EPA and DHA contained in fish have the effects of lowering cholesterol and neutral fat to prevent lipid disorders, thinning the blood, and preventing arteriosclerosis. Consumption of fish may be expected to prevent diseases such as cerebral infarction, myocardial infarction, and stroke. EPA is also an ingredient used as a prescription drug for dyslipidemia. If the frequency of fish intake increases and the results of blood sampling improve, there may be a possibility to reduce the use of medication.
Taste disorder
Zinc deficiency can be a hidden cause of taste disorders that make it difficult to taste food. Trace elements such as zinc do not need to be consumed in large quantities, but a deficiency or lack of it can cause disorders such as taste disorder. Taste disorders can be improved by eating shellfish, crustaceans, and sardines, which are high in zinc.
Cautions for Eating Fish
Fish is rich in nutrients and should be actively included in the diet. However, Japanese fish dishes such as grilled fish and sashimi often use salt and soy sauce, which can lead to excessive salt intake. While it is important to reduce the amount of salt, it is also important to focus on the type of salt. Sodium in salt can cause high blood pressure, but the sodium content varies depending on the type of salt. For example, each gram of salt made from natural seawater contains less sodium than industrially produced salt. Sensibly sweet salt tends to have less sodium.
Through the food chain in nature, fish also contain trace amounts of mercury. Since the amount is very small, it is said that adults and children can eat fish in moderate amounts with no health risks. However, for pregnant women, there are reports that it may affect the baby. Government websites provide guidelines on the amount of fish to be consumed by pregnant women, so please refer to them carefully.
reference：https://www.mhlw.go.jp/topics/bukyoku/iyaku/syoku-anzen/suigin/
https://www.fda.gov/food/consumers/advice-about-eating-fish
I hope this blog has been of some help to all of you. Thank you for reading until the end.
