As the weather turns colder, fish heads have once again become a popular item on people's dining tables. Especially in restaurants, fish head soup, fish head casseroles, and fish head hot pots have become highly sought-after dishes. However, a popular saying has recently emerged, claiming that fish heads should not be eaten in large quantities because they are the part of the fish where toxins accumulate the most, and that eating too much is not beneficial to one's health. So, what is the actual situation?
Fish Head Hot Pot
Modern scientific research has found that fish contain two types of unsaturated fatty acids: Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). These two unsaturated fatty acids are very beneficial for cleaning and softening blood vessels, lowering blood lipids, as well as for brain health and delaying aging. The content of DHA and EPA in fish oil is higher than in fish meat, and fish oil is relatively concentrated in the fish head. In this sense, eating more fish heads is indeed beneficial to human health.
Experts also point out that the gills are not only the fish's respiratory organ but also a quite important detoxification organ, which is why people always remove the fish gills when eating fish. Under normal circumstances, there are no toxins in the fish head, and eating it is safe. However, due to the deterioration of the overall environment in recent years, leading to pollution of water bodies and the ecological food chain, coupled with some aquaculture farmers adding chemicals to feed, harmful substances in the fish can increase and be difficult to expel to some extent, potentially accumulating in the fish head. To ensure food safety, consumers should try to purchase fresh fish and other aquatic products from regular, supervised markets. Additionally, when eating fish heads, one should go to regular restaurants and try not to order them from roadside stalls.
It is also particularly important to note here that while eating more fish heads is beneficial to health, this does not mean eating only fish heads and no fish meat. The protein content in fish meat is not only abundant, but it also contains more amino acids that are easily absorbed by the human body, making its nutrition equally rich.
In addition, fish heads contain a large number of parasites, so fish heads must be thoroughly cooked. Never eat them raw, and this is especially important when eating hot pot.