Not only are fish nutritious, but they are also delicious and tasty. The ancients had a saying: "The taste of fish is the taste of all tastes; once you've eaten fish, all other tastes lose their flavor." When the ancestors created the character for "freshness" (鲜), they placed it under the "fish" radical (鱼) and not the "meat" radical (肉), considering fish the ultimate delicacy of freshness. Therefore, fish has always been a beloved food. Besides being delicious, fish also offers various health benefits for the human body. I. Eating Fish Fights Depression
Scientists point out that 5% of the American population suffers from severe depression, while in Japan, the figure is only 0.1%, one-fiftieth of that in the United States. Research suggests that this difference is related to the varying amounts of fish consumed in the two countries' dietary habits. Studies have found that fish contain a special fatty acid that is related to the "happy hormone" in the human brain. It has effects such as alleviating mental stress and balancing emotions. People who do not eat fish or eat little of it often have lower levels of the "happy hormone." Americans do not often eat fish, so more of them suffer from depression. II. Eating Fish Prevents Asthma
As the saying goes: "Fish causes internal heat, and meat causes phlegm." For a long time, many people considered eating fish a major cause of asthma and therefore avoided it. However, recent research by experts has found that eating fresh fish regularly is not only harmless to asthma patients but also helps prevent asthma attacks. Why does eating fresh fish reduce asthma attacks? This is because the unsaturated fatty acids in fresh fish can prevent or reduce the production of inflammatory mediators in the human body, and asthma attacks are closely related to the release of these mediators. Furthermore, unsaturated fatty acids also have a certain effect of reducing airway inflammation, thereby helping to prevent the onset, recurrence, or alleviate the severity of asthma symptoms. III. Eating Fish Reduces Dementia
Canadian scientists, through a study of patients with Alzheimer's and healthy elderly individuals, found that the DHA fatty acid component in the blood of healthy elderly people is much higher than that of those with dementia. The average DHA content in the blood of people showing symptoms of dementia was 30% to 40% less than that of healthy elderly people. Scientists believe that DHA is a nutrient essential for brain cell activity and vitality, helping to improve nerve signal transmission and enhance thinking and memory abilities. Therefore, eating more fish can reduce the incidence of dementia in the elderly. IV. Eating Fish Prevents Stroke
Scientists have found that among developed countries, the incidence of stroke in Japan is significantly lower than in some European and American countries, and the reason is that Japanese people consume more fish. Eating more fish has a protective effect on the cardiovascular system. Research shows that the higher the content of protein and sulfur-containing amino acids in the diet, the lower the incidence of hypertension. Fish protein is rich in methionine and taurine, both sulfur-containing amino acids, which can affect blood pressure regulation mechanisms, increasing urinary sodium excretion and thus inhibiting the effect of sodium on blood pressure, reducing the incidence of hypertension. Experts suggest that one effective way for middle-aged and elderly people to prevent cardiovascular diseases is to take 3 to 4 grams of fish oil daily. V. Eating Fish Prevents Aging
In German history, there was a very famous chancellor named Bismarck. For years, he overindulged in food and drink and smoked excessively. At the age of 68, his body was extremely weak, his face was covered in wrinkles, and his eyes were cloudy and dull, as if death was beckoning to him. But later, he followed his doctor's advice and ate herring daily. Soon, a miracle happened: his skin became ruddy, his eyes bright, and he was full of spirit. He lived healthily until the age of 83.
Research shows that herring is not only rich in minerals like zinc, selenium, and calcium, but more importantly, it contains a large amount of nucleic acids. Nucleic acids are the fundamental substance that makes up cells, and the body's life activities cannot do without them. Bismarck's regular consumption of herring gradually restored his health and delayed his aging, which was indeed a wise move. Experts point out that eating more fish such as herring, sardines, salmon, small shrimp, and oysters can slow down human aging.