Fish and seafood - what are their benefits, and what are the harm

To fully saturate the body with useful substances, it is necessary to eat natural products. Meat, fish, vegetables and fruits. This article will tell you why it is so important to eat fish and how to cook it properly in order to preserve all its usefulness as much as possible.

The benefits of fish

Almost everyone knows that fish is a valuable source of pure protein. But what else is so useful in this fish that you definitely need to eat it?

Fish benefits:

• Contains a large amount of omega-3 fatty acids, which are very necessary for the normal functioning of the brain and other important body systems. Omega also helps to thin the blood, which makes it much more difficult for blood clots to form.
• Vitamins A, E, F, D. Essential vitamins for health. Improve condition skin, hair, nails.
• Substances that remove excess cholesterol from the body.
• Elements that restrain the spread of diabetes.
• The beneficial substances in fish help eliminate migraines and joint pain.
• Fish protein is easily absorbed, the body completely digests it in 2-3 hours.
• Diet product. Fish contains only unsaturated fats, which are not stored in the form of cholesterol or extra pounds.
• Strengthening potency and the reproductive system as a whole.
• A lot of protein, which is needed for muscle growth.
• A large number of various minerals - calcium, iodine, magnesium, etc.
• Fish has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the thyroid gland.
• There are many elements that improve visual acuity.
• Normalizes metabolism.
• It has a good effect on the functioning of the nervous system, soothes it, and solves problems with sleep.
• Prevention and strengthening of the cardiovascular system.

Remember that only fresh and properly cooked fish will benefit.

Fish harm

Despite all its usefulness, in some situations, fish can cause significant harm to the body. Namely:

1. If the product has not been stored properly and the meat has spoiled.
2. Exotic fish. For example, puffer, barracuda or hedgehog fish are toxic. Also, some types of fish meat are too fatty, oily. The body cannot handle that much fat. This threatens with food poisoning or a "riot" of the liver.
3. Individual intolerance.
4. Raw fish often causes intestinal parasites in humans. Be sure to thermally process the meat before eating.
5. Smoked fish contains many harmful substances. Many of them provokes the development of cancerous tumors... A particularly large amount of carcinogens is found in hot smoked fish.

To keep your health safe, you need to know the distinguishing features of good fresh fish:

• the fishy smell should not be pungent or rotten;
• the flesh of fresh fish is never loose; when pressed, it quickly restores its shape;
• the color of fish meat depends on the variety, but the color of fresh fish cannot be yellow or green.

Fish during pregnancy

Is it possible to eat fish and seafood during bearing baby? The question is reasonable, because many products from the "past" life future mothers have to forget for a while. However, fish are not included in this list. More precisely, not all.

Fish at pregnancy is needed because:

• The minimum amount of fat, that is, fish food will be absorbed by the pregnant woman as much as possible and will benefit the baby, and will not be deposited in the form of extra centimeters on the sides.
• A large amount of protein is what a growing body needs. After all, protein is the building block of the body.
• Vitamin D and iodine are essential for the proper development of the baby.
• Magnesium will make the nervous system of the expectant mother stronger. It will also strengthen the muscles and the cardiovascular system of both.
• Vitamin AT 6 will help to cope with attacks of toxicosis and seizures.
• During pregnancy it is important to eat foods rich in calcium. Since at this time he leaves the child as much as possible. Because of what the bones and teeth of the expectant mother often suffer.
• Omega-3 acids have a beneficial effect on the development of the baby's brain and help to strengthen innate immunity.

In what cases the expectant mother should refrain from eating fish:

• increased acidity of the stomach;
• gastrointestinal diseases;
• sushi and other dishes with raw fish - the risk of contracting parasites or other infections that affect the development of the fetus;
• predatory fish contain mercury, which is toxic;
• exotic fish varieties not previously consumed - shark, lobster, halibut, marlin, swordfish and others;
• smoked fish or canned fish, as more chemicals are added to preserve the meat.

Definitely, during carrying a child it is worth giving preference to sea fish. In particular, its low-fat representatives with white meat - hake, navaga, cod, pollock. If you really want a river fish, then it is better to buy carp or pike. It is better if the store is verified. And, of course, it is important to prepare it properly. How to do it? Read below.

Which fish is healthier

Fish can be sea and river. And usually the choice of the type of fish depends entirely on taste preferences and wallet capabilities. But, if you look at the chemical composition, which fish is the best for the body?

The answer is unequivocal - sea. It contains a much larger amount of nutrients and in a higher concentration than in the river. Also, river fish is considered a priori toxic, because fresh water bodies are much more polluted than their salty competitors.

Among sea fish, doctors especially single out representatives whose meat is red. Trout, salmon, salmon, pink salmon. These types have the most useful meat.

How to cook fish so that vitamins remain in it

We all love fried fish so much, with onions and in batter. Undoubtedly it is delicious. Only and very harmful. When frying, carcinogens are released, which are bad for the kidneys, liver and gastrointestinal tract.

Based on these data, it is best to bake the fish in the oven or cook with a double boiler. So the nutrients will be preserved as fully as possible, and the taste will not become a minus of proper nutrition.

The easiest way to cook fish in the oven is to wrap it in foil. Spread the seasoning mixture, sour cream, or olive oil over the food. Inside you can put fresh herbs, vegetables or condiments... Wrap in foil and bake in oven at 200 degrees. In this case, the 10 minute rule applies. For every 3 cm of fish, it takes 10 minutes in the oven. The thicker the fish, the longer it will take to bake.

It takes only 5-7 minutes to cook seafood in boiling water. Moreover, it is better to lower protein products immediately into boiling water. When protein is placed in cold water, nutrients are spent much faster during heating.

It is better to use fresh vegetables, stewed, or steamed for a side dish.