Catfish Is Not So Healthy - Bukola Adebayo

Bukola Adebayo
Catfish is one of the most popular and readily available
fish in Nigeria. In fact, its delicacy – irresistible to
many people – is very common at social gatherings.
It tastes great and is affordable when compared to
other varieties of fresh fish in the market.
But do you know that the omega 6 fatty acids in
catfish can increase your risk of getting blood clots,
arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and some
cancers?
Though doctors say fish is a better and healthier option
than meat, they quickly add that not all types of fish
are good for the heart.
Nutritionists say that catfish is loaded with bad fat and
high cholesterol that encourage clotting of the blood, a
condition whereby blood flow is impeded. This may
lead to cardiac arrest, thrombosis and, in some cases,
heart attacks.
A cardiologist, Dr. Jane Anisulowo, says that farm or
home-grown catfish is the worst example in this
regard, as it contains more fatty hormones than the
ones harvested from natural water.
Anisulowo says, “Fish is better than meat, no doubt. It
digests easily and it contains proteins. However,
catfish is not really a good option, especially the ones
they sell these days, which are cultivated with
hormonal feeds that are filled with steroids and other
fattening chemicals just to make them profitable.
These chemicals are cancerous in nature.
“Also, they contain so much oil that you can almost
taste it. Fish, generally, contains oil, but catfish has oil
in its skin. That is what makes it so oily and unhealthy.
“It also contains a lot of poly unsaturated fat that does
not only make you fat but also settles in the blood
stream. That is very dangerous because when blood
fails to get to an organ, it fails and suffers paralysis.”
A study conducted by the National Institute of Health
in 2012, using over 1000 species of the fish in different
water shows that catfish contains a high amount of
unfavourable omega-6 fat that causes inflammation in
the body.
According to the researchers, three-ounce portion of
catfish contains the same amount of bad fats found in
red meat.
This is not to say that one should give up eating the
fish as catfish contains some nutrients such as
Omega3 fatty acids that are good for the body.
Anisulowo says, “If you can get the one from the river,
which is rare in most cities, then you may eat it twice
a month. But if the only one you can get is the one
that is being reared by farmers, you don’t have to eat
at all, or just eat it when it is partially smoked. In that
way, some of the fats would have been lost in the
process. Better still, there are some other species of
fish that are oily but they contain good fats and are
more nutritious.”
Here are some other species that you can add to your
diet:
Mackerel
They are popularly known as Titus fish. The oily meat
found on mackerel is its main health benefit. The fish
oil, which is also known as omega-3 fatty acid, can be
so beneficial that it is used as a supplement.
It lowers triglycerides. High levels of triglycerides in
the body have been linked to heart disease and stroke.
The most common causes of a high triglyceride level
are obesity and poorly maintained diabetes, mainly
stemming from an inactive lifestyle.
Some researchers have found out that omega-3 fatty
acid is even more effective in reducing heart attacks
than some commonly-prescribed drugs.
Mackerel and other fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids are
good for the blood. They help to boost blood circulation
and lower blood pressure.
Tilapia
Tilapia is a high-quality fish. It has proteins and
contains all the essential amino acids your body
requires from food diet to help to build proteins. One
portion of tilapia cooked using dry heat contains about
26 grammes of protein. The Institute of Medicine
recommends that adult men consume at least 56
grammes of protein, adult women consume at least 46
grammes and pregnant and nursing women consume
71 grammes of protein each day. Eating tilapia can
help you to achieve that.
It may help in weight control. Tilapia is naturally low in
fat, and only contains about 128 calories in each
portion. According to a study published in a 2006
edition of “The Journal of Heart and Lung
Transplantation”, subjects who consumed eight
grammes of tilapia each week showed an improved
body weight .
Source : http://www.punchng.com/?p=12689