4 Health Benefits of Eating Sushi |
Posted: January 2, 2018 |
Japanese food is one of the most interesting cuisines out there. The Japanese people take food seriously and it shows in the meticulous and careful way they prepare and consume their food. Simply put, Japanese cuisine is a must-try for any self-confessed foodie. One of the most popular and unique types of Japanese food is sushi. The general term sushi usually refers to specially prepared rice seasoned with vinegar and comes with different ingredients such as raw or cooked fish, eggs, various types of seafood, tofu, boiled corn, vegetables, and fruits. There are many different types of sushi and sushi recipes; there are even some that have been ‘westernized’. A lot of people who have tried eating sushi have their own favorite type. Aside from the delectability of sushi, there are other reasons why you should try eating them, including their supposed health benefits. • Get your dose of iodine. Sushi is usually rolled in a seaweed wrapper called nori. This dried sea vegetable contains an abundance of iodine which is essential for the body’s metabolism. A lack of iodine in your body may result to problems in your thyroid function such as goiters or hypothyroidism. A sheet of nori can easily meet 70% of your body’s daily need for iodine. If you do not like putting too much iodized salt in your food, eating sushi will help you meet your required daily value for iodine. There are other vitamins and minerals you can get from nori such as vitamin C, vitamin A, potassium, and magnesium. • Get loads of omega-3 fatty acids. The hype around omega-3 fatty acids has been around for years and there is still a lot of value placed in these fatty acids. It’s been persistently promoted as something we should want in our body, simply because it is not all hype. Omega-3 fatty acids are important in healthy brain function and normal growth and development. Most importantly, they may reduce the risk of heart disease. When you eat sushi, you get to eat the fish in it that contain these fatty acids, allowing you to enjoy all the other health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids too. • Boost your metabolism. Almost all the major ingredients of sushi are low in calories and fat. Aside from this, you get high-quality protein in the form of fish. The result of this is a good boost in your body’s ability to metabolize energy more efficiently. If you’re looking for a low-calorie, low-fat, high-protein dish to include in your diet, go for sushi. However, take note that a lot of people like to eat sushi with large dollops of Japanese mayonnaise and dipped generously in soy sauce. These will boost the fat and calorie content of a single piece of sushi. So, hold off on those add-ons if you want sushi to do anything for your metabolism. • Lower your risk for cancer. Among the usual ingredients served with sushi are ginger and wasabi. Both of these are known for their anti-carcinogenic and anti-mutagenic properties. While ginger is a well-known spice rich in antioxidant, it might be surprising to some people that wasabi holds up its own impressive list of health benefits. Both also have antibacterial and antiviral properties, so they are also great for boosting your immune system. • Improve your blood circulation. If there’s any benefit to dipping your sushi in soy sauce, it would be the added iron you will get from it. But don’t dunk your sushi in soy sauce just yet, because iron can also be found in the fish inside your sushi. Iron, a much-needed mineral for your body, helps in the production of red blood cells which is important in blood circulation.
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