As we all know, fish is a good food.
High-quality protein is abundant and fat is low. It also contains unsaturated fatty acids, vitamin D, selenium and other nutrients that many people are easy to lack.
However, due to environmental and water pollution, the accumulation of heavy metals in fish is very worrying.
Do you really want to say goodbye to fish head tofu pot and chopped pepper fish head?
Fish, there is indeed pollution.
First of all, there are pollutants in fish.
Contaminants in the water are absorbed and enriched by plankton or plants and then eaten by fish at the bottom of the food chain. As the food chain passes, these pollutants accumulate step by step. Therefore, the more fish at the top of the food chain, the higher the content of heavy metals.
Among all kinds of pollutants in fish, mercury is the most harmful.
Legend has it that fish heads and skin have the highest mercury content. Can they still be eaten?
Some organizations have done experiments on several crucian carp, and the results show that the mercury content is: fish head > fish skin > fish meat > fish seed.
This may be the source of this statement.
First of all, the mercury content in different fish varies greatly, with the low being only a few micrograms per kilogram and the high being more than 1,000 micrograms per kilogram. The fish type, growth conditions and growth period will all have an impact.
Only a few crucian carp were detected in this experiment. Even if the data are accurate, it is not applicable to all fish.
What’s more, even the fish head, the mercury content measured in this experiment is 0.36 mg/kg, which is lower than the national standard of 0.5 mg/kg. It is groundless to say that [fish head cannot be eaten].
Secondly, there is much less edible part on fish head and skin than fish meat. Even if the unit mercury content in fish is really higher than that in fish meat, the mercury intake mainly comes from fish meat. If you like fish head and skin very much, there is really no need to give up your love with pain.
Therefore, fish heads and skin can be eaten, and the key is to choose fish with less pollution.
Do you like fish seeds, fish bubbles and fish eyes?
Fish seeds, fish bubbles and fish eyes are the hearts of many diners. However, can these strange parts be eaten?
- From a biological point of view, there are no toxic and harmful components in what in these parts. From the point of view of pollution, fish seeds and fish bubbles are not easy to enrich pollutants.
In a word: If you like to eat, eat.
Of course, don’t expect fish eyes to improve eyesight or something like that.
Do farmed fish have hormones and antibiotics?
Hormones: Not allowed by law.
Hormones are forbidden in fish farming, even if hormones are used, fish may not grow better.
Antibiotics: Reasonable use will not endanger health.
Antibiotics are generally used in aquaculture. Reasonable use of antibiotics has little residue and its impact on health can be ignored.
Since there is so much [pollution], can fish still be eaten?
Not only [can eat], but also [want to eat].
Both WHO and the latest edition of the U.S. Dietary Guidelines point out that considering the possible risks of pollutants, eating fish still has more advantages than disadvantages.
Therefore, FDA recommends adults to eat 8 to 12 ounces (about 220 to 340 grams) of low mercury fish per week. Chinese dietary guidelines also recommend eating fish 2 to 3 times a week.
Of course, this amount is only a general guide. If the fish you buy is less polluted, there is no what that cannot eat more. If you really like those fish with high mercury content, it is acceptable to try them occasionally.
Will domestic fish be more polluted…
In fact, according to the survey data reported at home and abroad, the methylmercury in Chinese fish is not higher than that in foreign countries. Therefore, don’t frighten yourself and eat fish at ease.
What kind of fish should I eat? How should I eat fish?
Comprehensive safety and nutrition, give you some suggestions to eat fish:
1. Eat fish 3 times a week, about 2 ~ 3 liang each time.
Considering DHA content, it is recommended to eat marine fish at least once a week, and Spanish mackerel, salmon, sea bass and small yellow croaker are recommended.
2. Try not to eat tuna, shark, swordfish, sailfish and other large carnivorous fish.
The higher the level of fish in the food chain, the easier it is to enrich mercury. It is better to eat less.
3. The same kind of fish, small fish is safer than big fish.
In the same kind of fish, the longer the growth period of the fish, the more mercury will be enriched.
4. Don’t be superstitious about wild fish.
Wild fish do not necessarily have better nutrition. Moreover, cultured fish grow rapidly, have a short growth cycle and accumulate less heavy metals because of sufficient food.
5. If conditions permit, you can eat more shellfish such as shrimps, crabs and oysters.
Nutrition is no worse than fish, and heavy metal accumulation is generally less than fish.
6. Steaming and boiling soup are recommended for eating fish.
For those grilled fish and fried fish soaked in oil, the loss of unsaturated fatty acids such as DHA can be large.