Nutritive value of Fishes
The nutritive and medicinal value of fish have been recognized from time immemorial.Fish flesh is an excellent source of protein in human diet.Fish is also a great source of omega-3 fatty acids,which are important for our body and brain.The principal biochemical contents of fish flesh are protein,fat and water.Protein constitutes about 20 percent.
The nutritional value of fish is comparable and even higher than that of the flesh of birds and mammals.Fish flesh remains a good source for all essential aminoacids in needed concentrations.
The Indian pomfret is ranked high on the basis of it’s aminogram.As a child food,fish is easily tolerated by infants.Lean fish is recommended to convalescing patients.
The nutritive value of preserved and processed fish and fishery product is generally lower than that of raw fish.
The following are the nutritive information of some fishes
Atlantic Salmon fillet:280 calories,12.5 grams of fat,86 mg of sodium,39.2 gram of protein.
Halibut : 116 calories, 3 grams fat, 0 grams carbohydrate, 20 grams protein.
Tuna : 109 calories, less than one gram fat, 0 grams carbohydrate, 24 grams protein.
Cod : 82 calories, 0.7 grams fat, 0 grams carbohydrate, 18 grams protein.
Whitefish 115 calories, 5 grams fat, 1.5 grams of omega-3 fatty acids
Pacific and jack mackerel (3 ounces) 134 calories, 7 grams fat, 1.6 grams of omega-3 fatty acids.
Medical and Economic importance of fish
Apart from direct consumption,contents in the body of fish are processed into a number of valuable products.
⭐Fish liver oil:Fish liver contains vitamin A and D in considerable quantities.Eg:cod liver oil and shark liver oil .Fish liver oil can cure or prevent occurrence of deficiency diseases such as rickets,eye defects, abnormalities in skin,mucous membrane and vertebrae.Fish liver oil will ensure healthy growth of bones and teeth.
⭐Fish body oil:Fish body oil is obtained from the entire body of fish.Fish body oil is generally extracted from oil sardines or from less edible varieties of Fishes.Some of the important uses of oil are:
1) Tanning of leather
2)steel and chemical industries
3) manufacture of lubricants,candles,cheap soaps,paints and varnishes.
⭐Fish meal:Fish meal makes an excellent poultry and animal feed.It enhances egg and milk production.
⭐Fish flour:Fish flour may also be mixed with wheat and maize flour.It is also used to enrich bakery products such as cakes,breads, biscuits,soup and sweets.
⭐ Fish manure and guano:All rejected and thrown out products from fishery industry are made use of as fish manure.Fish guano is obtained as waste from fish oil industries.It is a good manure.
⭐Fish glue:It is a kind of good glue obtained from fin trimmings,bones and skins of fishes.Fish glue is considered as a good adhesive.
⭐Isin glass:Isinglass is a high grade collagen produced from the air bladders of certain groups of fishes.It is also used in the preparation of plasters and special cements.
⭐Fish skin:Tanned skin of sharks and rays are used in the manufacture of shoes,handbags and wallets.
⭐Fish fin:The fins of sharks are exported to China where they are used for preparing soup.
Scales of garpike are used for jewelry and novelties. From scales of some fish is secured a pigment whose water suspension is known as pearl essence. It is used in the manufacture of artificial pearl in Europe, especially in France.
Omega fatty acids
The unique feature which differentiates fish food from other animal protein sources is the presence of omega-3fatty acids such as linolenic acid,DHA and EPA.Decosahexaenoic acid(DHA) promotes learning ability in children and improved memory in elders.It is also essential for foetal growth and development.Omega fatty acid is also good for heart and reported to be good for arthritis.
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