Cod liver: he alth benefits and harms, recipes

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

Until recently, cod liver was considered a delicacy that only certain segments of society could afford. In Soviet times, it was quite difficult to get a jar of such a delicacy. Why was there such a hype for this product and how great is the benefit of cod liver? Let's find out.

What kind of fish is used

Not every fish is suitable for making canned cod liver. Classification depends on the age of individuals and size. In most cases, cod weighing 2-4 kg is used. The length of such a fish reaches 85 cm, and the age is approximately 3 years.

Most of you may be wondering why not use a larger fish. It's more economical, because there are more processed products. The thing is that 3 years for cod is a certain milestone, after which it is already considered old. In addition, up to this age, cod feeds on mollusks and algae, and then it becomes a predator. This indicates the insignificance of the content of toxic substances in the body of young fish. From here you canto draw conclusions about cod liver, the benefits of which are appreciated by many nutritionists and people leading a he althy lifestyle.

Three-year-old cod are easier to catch, as the number of individuals exceeds the number of adult specimens. It is also easier to cut and transport such a valuable product as cod liver.

Benefits and harms

The benefits of cod liver have been known since ancient times. The famous doctor of past civilizations, Avicenna, strongly recommended the product to people with vision problems, as it contains a large amount of valuable vitamin A.

Interestingly, doctors advise using canned cod liver, the benefits of which are most tangible. This is due to the fact that the product quickly deteriorates. To extend the terms of use, they began to use canning, thanks to which all useful features are preserved for a long time. In addition, in our time there are entire factories afloat that are able to process fish as quickly as possible.

Useful properties

The cod liver is most valued for its high-quality protein and fatty acids (in particular Omega-3), which every person's body needs daily. In addition, the product contains vitamins:

• D, which affects bone he alth;
• B6, which improves overall well-being, eliminates fatigue and can lower cholesterol levels;
• B2, on which digestion depends;
• B1, positively affecting workcardiovascular and nervous systems, as well as improving memory;
• PP, which improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and has a beneficial effect on the pancreas and thyroid gland;
• C responsible for the immune system;
• E, which slows down the aging process.

In addition to vitamins, the benefits of cod liver lies in the content of trace elements, in particular magnesium, zinc, nickel, calcium, iron, phosphorus and others.

Cautions

As you can see, the benefits of the product are quite large. But at the same time there are a number of warnings on its use. This is primarily due to the high fat content, so cod liver should be used carefully, in limited quantities. Nutritionists recommend eating no more than 40 g of the product per day.

It is not advised to use cod liver to people:

• obese;
• high blood pressure;
• for urolithiasis;
• who suffer from allergic reactions to seafood;
• with an excess of calcium and vitamin D.

Carefully use the product for pregnant women and children under the age of three. A high content of vitamin A can adversely affect the child's body. Although, of course, the benefits of the product are much greater, you just need to stick to the golden mean in everything and not overdo it in recovery.

Another important rule for the use of cod liver: you should eat it only in combination with something, otherwise the use is fraught with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

Norms of use

A logical question arises: how much he althy cod liver can you eat per day? And are there general rules?

Of course, the rules exist and say that the product should be eaten no more than 150 g per day. But it all depends on the general he alth of each individual person. After all, 50 g will be enough for someone to replenish all vital trace elements, and 200 g will not be enough for someone. So use your common sense and your own doctor's advice.

Effect on the body

If we talk about cod liver, the benefits of which you have already seen, let's look at the effect directly on the body. What to expect from the use of such a valuable product:

• improve the condition of the skin;
• eliminate cholesterol plaques in the blood;
• increase immune defense;
• acceleration of regeneration processes;
• vision improvement;
• cancer prevention;
• strengthening the vascular system, as well as the work of the heart;
• diabetes prevention;
• improve thought processes and memory;
• Alzheimer's Prevention.

How to choose a good product?

To judge the benefits of canned cod liver, you should know some of the nuances of choosing a good product. This is due to the fact that only canned food is available for sale, and, as you know, if the technology is not followed correctly, they carry a threat of botulism.

Therefore, be careful when choosing and pay attention to the following nuances:

• Choose only the highest quality product. Study the label on the bank. It must indicate that the product is packaged near the sea or directly on a sea vessel.
• If canned cod liver, the benefits and harms of which we discussed above, was made far from the sea, this indicates that the semi-finished product is made from frozen fish, which means that its benefits are much lower.
• Examine the jar for dents, rust, and other damage. If there are any, it is better to look for another brand.
• Pay attention to the expiration date, because this factor is key during the selection. Trust more to the manufacturer who puts the date on the inside of the can itself. Such a stamp is difficult to fake or interrupt.
• When you've made your choice, try shaking the canned food lightly. After that, it should not have gurgling sounds or clicks inside.

Ingredients of canned food: what to look for?

Cod liver, the he alth benefits and harms of which we are considering, should be purchased only if the product is fresh and prepared in accordance with the standards and technologies of GOST. Therefore, pay attention to the composition. The contents of the tin should be nothing but fat and spices such as allspice, bay leaf and s alt. The addition of other ingredients can significantly reduce the benefits of eating a valuable product andtalk about a completely different kind of product.

In the closed version, canned food can be stored for up to two years, but after opening, you need to use fish liver throughout the day. If the family is small, transfer the contents to a glass airtight container and keep it exclusively in the refrigerator, and even then no more than 24 hours.

Usage rules

For the preparation of cod liver, the benefits and recipes must be studied in advance. First you need to drain the oil in which it is contained. Since the product itself is quite fatty, dishes prepared later from the liver do not need to be additionally lubricated with mayonnaise or butter. This will increase the already heavy load on the pancreas.

Using such an offal as cod liver, you can cook a lot of snacks, supplementing it with vegetables and herbs. In addition, the liver will serve as an excellent addition to side dishes. Even an ordinary sandwich with this product will look appetizing and elegant and will be able to decorate even a festive table.

Spring Salad

Of course, the easiest way to serve canned cod liver is to put small pieces of the product on bread, then decorate with herbs. Even in this version, everyone will be delighted with canned food. But we suggest going further and making a salad. For this you will need:

• a jar of canned cod liver;
• 5 hard boiled eggs;
• a bunch of green onions;
• 1 piece Crimean blue bow;
• 4 cherry tomatoes;
• salad;
• s alt, pepper.

Tear the lettuce leaves with your hands first. Put on them the eggs, previously cut into 4 parts. Carefully lay out the liver slices, fairly large. Cut the onion (one and the second) and put in a bowl with the total contents. Cut the tomatoes in half and add to the salad too. S alt, pepper and pour canned oil on top. Salad ready. Garnish with herbs and serve.

Once again about the benefits

Cod liver is not only a he althy delicacy, but also a delicious product that you definitely need to pamper yourself and your family from time to time. A high content of vitamins and microelements will undoubtedly have a positive effect on the general condition of the whole organism.

The main conclusion that can be drawn from reading this article is that the benefits and harms of cod liver (there are many recipes with this product) are in unequal proportions, since there are much more positive aspects. The product can be safely used by both children and the elderly. The main thing is not to overdo it and observe the golden mean.

Bon appetit!