Boiled Fish, a specialty from Chongqing, has become a widely loved dish across the country due to its unique ultra-spicy flavor, rich color, and oily fish slices, which greatly stimulate people's appetite. However, few people are concerned about the actual health effects of eating boiled fish.
There have been media reports of people developing "soft tissue abscesses" from eating large amounts of boiled fish. Although doctors later stated this was an extremely rare phenomenon, reactions such as breaking out in acne, getting "heaty" (a concept in traditional Chinese medicine), and experiencing stomach discomfort after eating boiled fish are common occurrences for many.
Below, we will analyze from a nutritional perspective whether boiled fish affects health, so everyone can enjoy it with peace of mind.
•Salt•
The daily salt intake for a normal person should be 3-5 grams, but the amount of salt in boiled fish far exceeds this normal standard. The resulting risks are:
Excessive salt intake can easily cause the body to retain more water. If this excess water is not expelled in time, it can lead to swelling in the hands and feet and weight gain. For women, eating boiled fish during their menstrual period can worsen bloating and easily lead to fatigue.
Excessive salt intake can easily lead to nervousness, high blood pressure, and can affect the elasticity of blood vessels.
•Oil•
Oil contains a large amount of calories and fat. Consuming it in excess causes the body's fat content to increase. The daily intake of 30-50 grams of edible oil (including the oil content in food) is sufficient to meet the body's needs, and excessive intake is not recommended. The oil used to cook boiled fish is not only used in large quantities but is also repeatedly heated. The resulting risks are:
Excessive oil intake leads to excessive fat consumption in the body.
It destroys the nutritional components in the fish, preventing people from properly absorbing the necessary nutrients after consumption.
•Chili Peppers•
Most people know that eating too many chili peppers can make one feel "heaty" and cause inflammation. Boiled fish contains an excessive amount of chili peppers, which leads to the following risks:
It strongly stimulates the digestive tract, and in severe cases, can cause gastrointestinal bleeding or trigger ulcers. It can also lead to constipation.
It can cause deep-seated skin abscesses, affecting facial appearance.
•Accompaniments•
The unique taste of boiled fish can cause people to neglect the intake of other foods while eating it.
The side dishes in boiled fish are simple; besides the fish, the only vegetable is often bean sprouts. Long-term consumption leads to an unbalanced diet.
When paired with the spicy and numbing fish, most people tend to overindulge in drinks like Coke and beer, feeling it's more exciting and helps to alleviate the spiciness. However, these are not drinks that the body should consume in excess. Coke has a very high sugar content and contains stimulants like caffeine. Excessive beer consumption puts a heavy burden on the liver due to its alcohol content, leading to fat accumulation, and in severe cases, can cause fatty liver.
•Intense Flavor•
The intense spicy and numbing flavor of boiled fish greatly stimulates the taste nerves, increasing saliva and gastric juice secretion and accelerating gastrointestinal motility, making people feel excited. The resulting risks are:
It can lead to taste fatigue and create a dependency, making it addictive. This is why some people eat boiled fish every few days.
Reminder:
Based on the analysis above, while we love the delicious taste of boiled fish, we should pay attention to the following points:
Do not eat boiled fish in excess, especially for those who are "addicted" and have to have a盆 (basin) of it every few days; they should be particularly mindful of moderation.
Boiled fish is a high-protein, high-calorie food. Although it's beneficial to eat high-energy foods as the weather gets colder, it's important to pair it with vegetables and fruits to avoid vitamin deficiencies.
Eating boiled fish can lead to constipation the next day, which is caused by the spiciness. In this case, it's best to drink more tea, and if you have radishes, eating some can help relieve gas.
The direct consequence of eating boiled fish is a sore throat and feeling "heaty," because these foods are considered "damp" in traditional Chinese medicine, which easily produces phlegm and internal heat. You should drink chrysanthemum tea to counteract this. If you often eat boiled fish in the winter, you should drink at least 1000 ml of water daily to alleviate the "heatiness."