We all know that fish is highly nutritious and has always been loved by the masses for its delicious taste. There are many ways to eat fish, but if the eating method is not correct, it not only lacks nutrition, but also harms our health. Let's take a look at some taboos when eating fish.
1. The fresher, the more harmful
Many people believe that the fresher the fish, the better it is to eat it alive to ensure its freshness and nutrition. But in fact, this is a misconception. Fishes contain certain toxic substances, and if eaten alive, the toxic substances may not have time to be eliminated, which can be harmful to our body.
After buying live fish, it is better to keep them in clean water for a day or two before consumption. For fish that have been killed, it is best to soak them in clean water for about an hour to help eliminate any remaining toxins and reduce the harm of toxic substances to our body. As for cooking, it is best to do it a few hours after the fish has died. This is because the connective tissues in the fish meat soften gradually after slaughter, and the meat becomes more tender and delicious. Cooking at this point will give the best taste.
2. Be cautious with fish gallbladder detoxification
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that fish gallbladder has the effect of clearing heat, detoxifying, improving vision, and relieving cough. Therefore, even though fish gallbladder tastes bitter, many people are eager to try it. However, fish bile contains highly toxic substances such as ichthyotoxin sodium sulfate, which are heat-resistant and not destroyed by alcohol. Therefore, whether cooked or eaten raw, or even consumed with alcohol, there is a possibility of poisoning.
Fish gallbladder poisoning can occur quickly and the condition can be severe. Mild symptoms include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, while severe cases may involve enlarged liver, jaundice, tenderness in the liver area, tenderness in the kidney area, etc. If not treated in time, it can even lead to liver and kidney failure and death. Therefore, it is best to eat fish gallbladder sparingly, and even if used for medicinal purposes, it is advisable to follow the doctor's advice.
3. Avoid these two parts when eating fish
As the fish grows older, the accumulated mercury in its body increases, especially in the fish brain and skin. The parts with the highest mercury content are ranked as follows: fish head, fish skin, fish meat, fish roe. Take carp as an example, for carp weighing less than 200g, the mercury content in the fish meat, fish roe, fish skin, and fish brain is very low, and the difference in values is not significant. However, for carp weighing around 400g, the mercury content in the fish skin is 5 times higher than that of carp weighing less than 200g, and the mercury content in the fish brain is more than 20 times higher. Therefore, when choosing fresh fish, it is best to choose smaller ones, and it is also better to avoid eating fish head and fish skin.
4. Eating fish on an empty stomach can cause gout
Gout is a disease caused by disorders in purine metabolism. Most fish have a high purine content. If a large amount of fish is consumed on an empty stomach without enough carbohydrates for decomposition, it can easily lead to acid-base imbalance, thereby inducing or worsening gout. Therefore, it is best to eat some starchy foods such as porridge, noodles, and taro before eating fish meat. During the meal, it is also possible to consume some starchy dishes such as sweet potatoes, corn, and potatoes to reduce the harm of purine and protect our health.
5. Eating raw fish slices can easily cause liver fluke disease
Many people like to eat raw fish slices because they think they are tender and delicious. However, eating raw fish slices can easily lead to liver fluke disease and even trigger liver cancer. Liver fluke disease is a parasitic disease that mainly affects the liver and gallbladder. It is mostly caused by eating aquatic products containing liver fluke metacercariae, especially raw or undercooked freshwater fish, shrimp, and snails, which are highly likely to be infected with liver flukes. Many people think that marinating raw fish slices with sauce and vinegar can kill the parasites and bacteria in them. However, common seasonings such as soy sauce, vinegar, mustard, and alcohol are difficult to kill them. Even if the raw fish slices are put into hot water, it is difficult to kill the liver fluke metacercariae if the cooking time is not enough. Therefore, it is best to eat raw fish slices sparingly.
6. Four types of people should not eat sea fish
Pregnant women, women planning to become pregnant, breastfeeding women, and infants
Zhuang Ping, director of the East China Sea Fisheries Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, said that generally speaking, there are not too many taboos when it comes to eating fish. However, considering that different fish have different growth cycles, they may have different effects on specific groups of people. For example, carp during the breeding season has a significant increase in hormones, which means it can easily cause acne after consumption and is not suitable for people with weak constitution.
Therefore, people in different stages should choose fish products that suit their constitution. For example, pregnant women, women planning to become pregnant, breastfeeding women, and infants should pay attention to choosing fish products that are suitable for them. It is best to avoid eating high-mercury marine fish such as tuna, oysters, sea bass, halibut, and mackerel, and choose some nutritious freshwater fish instead.
