Although in Japan sushi is considered an ancient dish that was born hundreds of years ago, in the West it has become popular only in recent decades. So popular, in fact, that today we can find it even in supermarkets and makeshift stalls in malls, but is it even healthy?
The senior American dietitian from New York, Nicole Sohaig, recently decided to put the matter in order once and for all in an interview she gave to the food magazine Delish.
We added sauces to it, photo: Etiel Zion
According to Sohaig, it is indeed a healthy dish - although in its Japanese version and not in other American or Western versions that made the dish full of sauces and processed food additives. "Sushi is an unprocessed food so it's one of the best foods to eat out in restaurants. It's a whole food that you can see and recognize with your eyes," the dietitian said, elaborating: "After all, it's made up of fish, rice, algae and other natural flavors. The dish is balanced in terms of protein, carbohydrates and fat. It's also an excellent source of iron, B12, iodine and zinc, as well as omega three, if we choose high-fat fish for our sushi," says the expert.
Suheig recommends the types of sushi that have minimal toppings, because they are, she says, the healthiest in terms of ingredients. On this list you will find nigiri, sashimi and maki. "I recommend the original Japanese sushi," she says, explaining that "as a general rule, you should focus on foods that do not have unnecessary additives, even if they are considered nutritious." In this respect, as with all types of cuisine, sushi has also been "Americanized" in the United States, and in other Western countries, including Israel, it has been modified to suit the local palate. Thus, the quality of the food was nutritionally impaired.
Source of iron and zinc,
What is the recommended frequency of eating sushi?
Suheig explained that it all depends on the type of fish the dish is made of. If we are talking about large fish such as tuna or mackerel, sushi should not be consumed frequently, because these fish contain a large amount of the toxic metal mercury. Otherwise, you can consume sushi whenever you want.
Who should avoid sushi?
The U.S. FDA recommends that children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with compromised immune systems avoid sushi. The reason, Suheig explains, is because of the parasites or bacteria found in fish that have not been cooked at all. However, the dietitian notes, if a high-risk person still wants to enjoy the food, they should focus only on the types in which the fish was cooked and processed previously or on dishes that do not have fish. In any case, she recommends that pregnant women consult a doctor about the issue.
In such a way that we can feel the freshness of the fish,
Another group of people who should be wary of eating sushi are those who are gluten sensitive or have gluten-related allergies. This is because soy sauce naturally contains gluten. Therefore, if sushi comes into contact with soy sauce, then it will not be healthy for these people.
The expert added in conclusion that it is important to consume sushi only in familiar places, those that do not mix too spicy substances in the dish to hide the poor quality of the fish. For this reason, as mentioned, she also recommended ordering the simpler dishes, those that do not contain sauces or toppings that would obscure the lack of freshness of the fish.
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