As the saying goes, "red meat is not as good as poultry, and poultry is not as good as fish." Fish has always been a popular food among the masses for its delicious taste and nutritional value. When the ancestors first created Chinese characters, they placed the character for "freshness" (鲜) under the radical for "fish" (鱼), considering fish the ultimate source of freshness. Moreover, the ever-increasing variety of ways to prepare it has made fish even more sought-after. The benefits of eating fish are obvious, but improper consumption can harm your health and even lead to fatal diseases. Let's quickly look at a few common mistakes to prevent them.
1. Eating freshly killed fish can leave toxins in the body
Most people believe that the fresher the fish, the better, so they prefer to kill and eat it immediately, thinking this ensures its freshness and nutrition. However, this is actually a misconception. Both farmed and wild fish contain certain toxic substances in their bodies.
When eating fish immediately after it is killed, the toxic substances in its body often do not have enough time to be completely expelled, and the parasites and bacteria on the fish have not died completely. These residual toxins can be harmful to the body.
In addition, the protein in freshly killed fish has not been fully broken down, the nutritional value is not fully realized, and the texture is not the best.
Suggestion:
After buying a live fish, you can keep it in clean water for a day or two before killing it. For a fish that has already been killed, it is best to soak it in clean water for about an hour to help evaporate the remaining toxins and reduce the harm of toxic substances to your body.
As for cooking, it is best to do so several hours after the fish has died. After being left for a period of time, the connective tissues in the fish meat begin to soften, and the meat becomes more flavorful and delicious. Cooking it at this time yields the best taste.
Undeniably, fish is indeed a very healthy food, but only by eating it correctly can it truly benefit your health.
2. Eating raw fish slices can easily lead to "clonorchiasis"
Many people love the tender and delicious taste of raw fish slices, but they don't realize that eating raw fish is very harmful to the liver and can easily lead to clonorchiasis, and even induce liver cancer.
According to experts in nutrition and health, clonorchiasis is a parasitic disease that mainly affects the liver and gallbladder. The risk of human infection is very high from eating raw or undercooked freshwater fish, shrimp, and snails containing live metacercariae of Clonorchis sinensis. Currently, in Guangdong Province alone, there are millions of patients with clonorchiasis, many of whom were infected by eating raw fish and shrimp.
Its clinical symptoms are more common, such as fatigue, upper abdominal discomfort, indigestion, abdominal pain, diarrhea, dull pain in the liver area, hepatomegaly, dizziness, etc. In severe cases of advanced infection, it can lead to liver cirrhosis with ascites, and even death.
Reminder:
Many people think that seasoning raw fish slices with sauce and vinegar can kill the Clonorchis sinensis and make them safe to eat. However, in fact, common seasonings such as soy sauce, vinegar, wasabi, and alcohol are difficult to kill them. Even if the fish slices are put in 90°C hot water, they cannot be killed if the cooking time is insufficient.
Therefore, it is best to eat raw fish slices less. It is also worth noting that when Clonorchis sinensis parasites are in the human body, there are almost no symptoms at the beginning. Some people may not feel its existence for even a decade. But by the time it is discovered, it is often too late. It is recommended that people who regularly eat raw fish slices should go to the hospital for an examination to confirm whether they are infected.
3. Ingesting fish gallbladders improperly can lead to poisoning instead of detoxification
Fish gallbladder is a traditional Chinese medicine, often used by TCM to treat eye redness and pain, sore throat, and sores.
Therefore, there is a folk saying that eating fish gallbladder can clear heat and detoxify, improve eyesight, and relieve coughing. So, despite its bitter taste, some people are eager to try it. Ingesting fish gallbladders improperly is extremely dangerous and can easily cause poisoning and even endanger life.
Experts point out that fish bile contains highly toxic substances such as water-soluble "cyprinol sodium sulfate." These toxins are heat-resistant and will not be destroyed by alcohol. Therefore, whether the fish gallbladder is cooked, swallowed raw, or taken with wine, poisoning can occur.
Fish gallbladder poisoning has a rapid onset, a severe condition, and a high mortality rate. Those with mild poisoning may experience symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Severe cases may show symptoms such as an enlarged liver, jaundice, tenderness in the liver area, oliguria or anuria, and tenderness in the kidney area. If not treated in time, it can lead to liver and kidney failure and death.
The degree of poisoning in a patient is generally related to the amount of bile in the fish gallbladder. Therefore, ingesting the gallbladder of a larger fish is more likely to cause poisoning.
Reminder:
Individuals must never ingest fish gallbladders on their own. Patients who need to consume them should do so under the guidance of a TCM practitioner for proper intake.
4. Eating fish on an empty stomach may lead to "gout"
Today, with the growing trend of dieting, many people like to eat only vegetables without rice, and it is common to eat fish on an empty stomach. However, this can very likely trigger a gout attack. Gout is a disease caused by purine metabolism disorder, which leads to an increase in blood uric acid and causes tissue damage.
The vast majority of fish are rich in purines. If you consume a large amount of purine-rich fish on an empty stomach without enough carbohydrates to break it down, the body's acid-base balance will be disrupted, which can easily induce gout or worsen the condition of gout patients.
Suggestion:
Before eating fish, you can first eat some low-fat foods containing carbohydrates, such as multigrain porridge, buckwheat flour, or taro, to "line your stomach." During the meal, you can also eat some starchy dishes, such as steamed sweet potatoes, sweet corn, or potatoes, to balance the body's acid-base level, reduce the harm of purines, and play a role in protecting your health.