Notes when eating tilapia to avoid danger

Tilapia is a fish that many people love. However, how to eat this fish to avoid danger is something you should know.

Advantages of tilapia

Tilapia is rich in nutrients, vitamins and minerals, including a significant amount of protein, fatty acids, selenium, phosphorus, potassium, vitamin B12, niacin, vitamin B6 and pantothenic acid... These substances are very good for the growth and development of the body.

In addition, tilapia contains an impressive amount of protein, accounting for more than 15% of our daily needs, so this fish is becoming a fish dish that many people eat.

In addition, tilapia contains a lot of protein which is the main shaping factor of the body, directly related to the growth and development of organs, cell membranes and muscles... Protein deficiency can cause malnutrition in children.

Tilapia is high in selenium, a natural antioxidant that has many impressive benefits. Studies have shown a direct link between selenium intake and prostate cancer risk.

Additional research is being done on the effects of selenium found in tilapia on other cancers.

Tilapia has many benefits but be careful when eating. Illustration photo

Danger of eating tilapia raised in unclean environment

However, tilapia are now mainly raised in farms, there are very few in the wild.

In 2009, studies at the US Department of Agriculture tested seafood imported from China and revealed that many farms in China were located in heavily polluted areas.

Most tilapia consumed in the United States today is farm-raised rather than wild-caught. Farm-raised fish are often exposed to 10 times more cancer-causing organic pollutants than wild tilapia.

Furthermore, one of the main ingredients in the feed is chicken manure and processing waste from pigs and ducks is also quite common.

Fish is a great source of Omega 3, which is important for the body. Omega 3 benefits health by reducing blood pressure, reducing blood cholesterol, and strengthening the immune system.

It also prevents arthritis, depression, heart disease and even cancer. However, according to a study by Wake Forest University (USA) in 2008, tilapia contains more Omega 6 than Omega 3 in a ratio of 11/1.

According to scientists, although Omega 6 is also necessary for the body, its appropriate ratio to Omega 3 should be 2/4.

A ratio of Omega 6 to Omega 3 in fish greater than 6/1 may increase the risk of asthma, arthritis and other inflammatory diseases in the body.

According to food chemical engineer Ho Thu Thuy, regardless of whether aquatic vegetables or foods such as snails, mussels, or even farmed or wild tilapia live in a polluted environment with heavy metals, they all affect human health.

Because the heavy metal environment has a prominent characteristic that after entering the body, the metal is rarely eliminated but accumulates over time and then causes toxicity.

Therefore, if fish such as tilapia are contaminated from the farming environment and become human food, it will be a significant threat to human health.

Each type of metal has a different level of impact on humans. For example, with lead, depending on the level of poisoning, it can cause abdominal pain, joint pain, kidney inflammation, high blood pressure, stroke, and severe poisoning can cause death.

In addition, if tilapia fish live in a chemical environment related to pesticides, dyes, antibiotics, etc., they will also be poisoned. These chemicals, if left in fish and eaten by humans, can lead to poisoning.

How to choose farmed tilapia and wild fish

Normally, farmed tilapia or other fish are raised in the same batch, meaning the fish are relatively equal in weight.

Looking at a fish bowl of a seller, if the fish are the same size, most of them are farmed fish. Because fish raised in ponds and lakes are narrower than wild fish, they will swim slower and not be as strong as wild fish. When you eat farmed fish, the meat will be loose and not have a good smell.

As for wild fish, the fish are not equal, some are big, some are small, and live longer. Or buyers can rely on geography, if the market is near a river or stream, there may be occasional river fish. As for wild fish, the meat will be firmer, more fragrant, and sweeter.

At the same time, we should not buy dead tilapia, people with a history of heart disease should be careful not to eat too much tilapia because it contains omega-6 fatty acids.

According to Gia dinh.net