As the saying goes, "red meat is not as good as poultry, and poultry is not as good as fish." Fish, with its delicious taste and high nutritional value, has always been a favorite food among the public. In ancient times, when ancestors created Chinese characters, the character for "freshness" (鲜) was placed under the "fish" (鱼) radical, considering fish the ultimate delicacy of freshness. Moreover, the ever-innovating variety of ways to eat fish has made it all the more popular. The benefits of eating fish are obvious, but improper consumption can also harm your health and even lead to fatal diseases. Hurry and check out a few common mistakes in eating fish to prevent problems before they arise.
Eating raw fish slices can easily lead to "clonorchiasis"
Many people love the tender and delicious taste of raw fish slices, but little do they know that eating raw fish is very harmful to the liver,极易感染肝吸虫病，甚至诱发肝癌. According to experts in nutrition and health, clonorchiasis is a parasitic disease that mainly affects the liver and gallbladder. The risk of human infection through eating raw or semi-freshwater fish and shrimp containing live Clonorchis sinensis metacercariae is extremely high. Currently, in Guangdong Province alone, there are millions of clonorchiasis patients in China, many of whom were infected precisely by eating raw fish and shrimp. >> Eating fish and meat can help protect the brain
Its clinical symptoms are more common, such as fatigue, discomfort in the upper abdomen, indigestion, abdominal pain, diarrhea, dull pain in the liver area, hepatomegaly, dizziness, etc. In severe cases of late infection, it can lead to liver cirrhosis with ascites, and even death.
Reminder:
Many people think that after mixing raw fish slices with seasonings and vinegar, the Clonorchis sinensis can be killed and it can be eaten with confidence. However, in fact, common seasonings such as soy sauce, vinegar, mustard, 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 less raw fish. It is also worth noting that when Clonorchis sinensis parasites in the human body, there are almost no symptoms at the beginning. Some people may not feel its existence for even a decade or two, but by the time it is discovered, it is often too late. It is recommended that people who have a long-term habit of eating raw fish should go to the hospital for an examination to confirm whether they are infected.
Indiscriminately eating fish gallbladder to detoxify instead causes poisoning
Fish gallbladder is a traditional Chinese medicine, often used by TCM to treat eye redness and pain, throat obstruction, and sores.
Therefore, the folk also spreads the saying that eating fish gallbladder can clear heat and detoxify, improve eyesight, and relieve cough. So although the fish gallbladder is bitter, some people are always eager to give it a try. Indiscriminately eating fish gallbladder is extremely dangerous and can easily cause poisoning and even endanger life.
Experts point out that the bile of fish contains highly toxic substances such as water-soluble "cyprinol sodium sulfate," which are both heat-resistant and not destroyed by alcohol. Therefore, whether the fish gallbladder is cooked, swallowed raw, or taken with wine, poisoning can occur.
The degree of poisoning in a patient is generally related to the amount of bile in the fish gallbladder. Therefore, swallowing the gallbladder of a larger fish is more likely to cause poisoning.
Reminder:
Individuals must never indiscriminately eat fish gallbladder. Patients who need to consume it should take it reasonably under the guidance of a TCM practitioner.
Eating fish on an empty stomach may lead to "gout"
Today, with the growing trend of weight loss, many people like to eat only vegetables and not rice. It is common to eat fish on an empty stomach, but this can easily trigger a gout attack. Gout is a disease caused by purine metabolism disorder leading to an increase in blood uric acid and subsequent tissue damage.
And the vast majority of fish are rich in purines themselves. If a large amount of purine-rich fish is consumed 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 patients with gout.
Suggestion:
Before eating fish, one can first eat some low-fat foods containing carbohydrates, such as coarse grain porridge, buckwheat flour, taro, etc., to line the stomach. During the meal, some dishes containing starch, such as steamed sweet potatoes, sweet corn, potatoes, etc., can also be consumed to balance the body's acid-base levels, reduce the harm of purines, and play a role in protecting health.
Killing and eating fish immediately leaves residual toxins that harm the body
Most people think that the fresher the fish, the better, so they prefer to kill and eat it immediately, believing this ensures the fish's freshness and nutrition. But this is actually a misconception. Whether farmed or wild, fish contain certain toxic substances.
When killed and eaten immediately, the toxic substances in the fish's 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 fish protein from killing and eating immediately has not been completely decomposed, the nutritional value is not fully available, and the texture is not the best either.
Suggestion:
After buying live fish, you can keep them in clean water for a day or two before killing them. For fish that have already been killed, it is best to soak them in clean water for about an hour to try to volatilize the remaining toxins on the fish and reduce the harm of toxic substances to the body.
And it is best to cook the fish several hours after its death. Because after a period of time, the connective tissue of the fish meat begins to soften gradually, and the meat becomes more flavorful and delicious. At this point, cooking yields the best taste.
There is no denying that fish is indeed a very healthy food, but only by eating it properly can it truly be beneficial to your health.