Dried meat and fish are products made from meat or fish that has been seasoned and dried. As the water content decreases, the nutrients become more concentrated, with protein content reaching over 45%. Therefore, they are a good food source for supplementing protein.
When your main meals lack protein-rich foods, or when you're just filling up with things like bread, cold noodles, or instant noodles, adding some dried meat or fish as a snack can effectively supplement your nutrition. Eating them appropriately when traveling is also beneficial for maintaining physical energy. However, if you think that the more dried meat and fish you eat, the better, you would be mistaken.
Not conducive to weight loss.
Dried meat is a food with a relatively high caloric value; eating more of it is no different from eating more meat. Today's dried meat products often contain a lot of fat. Eating too much is not good for weight loss and also increases the intake of saturated fatty acids.
Contains carcinogens.
Foods like dried fish and shredded squid contain relatively high levels of "nitrosamines," which are potent carcinogens formed by the combination of protein decomposition products and nitrites. Occasional and small consumption is unlikely to cause harm, but if you frequently eat large amounts of dried fish, or if the raw materials used to make the dried fish are not fresh, it is highly likely to lead to excessive nitrosamine intake.
Increases salt intake.
To facilitate preservation, a significant amount of salt is added to dried fish and meat. This brings in extra sodium, which is very detrimental to people with chronic illnesses and can exacerbate bloating, under-eye bags, and premenstrual discomfort.
Increases metabolic waste.
The large amount of protein in dried fish and meat is only beneficial to the body to a certain extent. If there is too much protein, exceeding the body's ability to utilize it, it will form a series of metabolic wastes such as ammonia and urea, increasing the burden on the liver and kidneys. Undigested and absorbed protein can promote the proliferation of spoilage bacteria in the intestines, forming fecal odor and even carcinogenic substances in the gut.
Eating too much of these protein and salt-heavy foods in the summer can cause thirst and worsen dehydration. Since a large amount of protein increases the body's heat production, such foods should be eaten sparingly during hot weather. If you eat dried fish or meat, you should drink more water, bean soup, or light tea, and increase your intake of vegetables and fruits.