Capelin: benefit and harm to the human body

Capelin belongs to the species of sea fish, which at a low cost helps a person not only to get enough, but also to support the body with useful substances. Experts advise including it in the menu for patients who have had a heart attack or have metabolic problems. It is believed that the systematic use of capelin prevents the development of depression, saturates with energy and eliminates bad mood.

Many useful components make it useful for both women and men. Capelin is not included in the list of prohibited foods during pregnancy and lactation. In boiled and baked form, it can be consumed 2-3 times a week. Due to its low calorie content, it is often part of the menu of people who want to get rid of extra pounds. It is a good way to prevent anemia and problems with the hematopoiesis system.

What does capelin look like and where is it found?

The natural habitat of capelin is the salty waters of the (Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic) oceans. This is a subspecies of smelt, which is small in size. The largest specimens can barely reach 25 cm. According to world statistics, sales of this fish occupy a leading position due to the budget cost. Representatives of any social class can afford to include capelin in the weekly menu.

The second name of capelin is Üek. The body of the fish is characterized by a streamlined shape, slightly flattened on the sides. On average, it grows up to 15 cm in length, weighing up to 50 g. The scaly coating is very small, easily peeled off when peeled. The head is small with a large oral cavity. Compared to the body, the fins are simply huge, located on the back of a greenish tint and on the sides. Below, on the peritoneum, the color changes to silver with a slight brown tint.

Capelin males are usually larger, with long fins and a very sharp head. During periods of mating, roll-like soft scales grow on both sides of the body. Females are smaller in size, differ in a greener, almost olive color. Scientists have found that the average lifespan of this species of fish is approximately 10 years.

Capelin belongs to the flocking species of marine life and spends almost all the time at a depth of 300-400 m. Representatives of this species never swim in fresh water. The largest catches are recorded in the Arctic Ocean and in the Atlantic. Fishing was widespread in Norway, off the coast of Greenland. The best quality capelin lives in the Chukchi, White, Barents Seas.

At the beginning of spawning, small flocks of capelin are combined into huge schools of up to several million individuals. During this period, predators follow the fish on its heels, for which it is food: cod, whales, seals, gulls. On some seas, when huge waves form due to a storm or strong wind, hundreds of thousands of fish are thrown onto the coast and die. After spawning, the whole capelin returns to its habitat.

Kinds

Since capelin is one representative of the species of the same name, some researchers have identified two subspecies in it, differing only in habitat:

• Atlantic (Mallotus villosos villosus);
• Pacific (Mallotus villosus catervarius).

It lives mainly at a depth of 300 m, during spawning it is beaten close to the shores, due to which a third of the species dies due to accidental being thrown to the shore or eaten by gulls and seals.

What is the difference between capelin and herring

Salaka is a representative of the herring family and has a second name - Baltic herring. She can live both in sea and in river waters. Capelin belongs to the marine species and is part of the smelt family.

Capelin and herring differ from each other in the following properties:

1. Salaka looks like a herring and can reach 30 cm in length, capelin rarely exceeds 25 cm.
2. The weight of herring is on average 70 g, capelin is much less - up to 55 g.
3. Salaka has an elongated body with a convex abdomen, capelin is more elongated, almost rectangular.
4. The back of herring is dark blue with a silver abdomen, capelin on top is olive-greenish.

Herring contains more vitamins, and capelin contains more macroelements. The herring family is characterized by the presence of many small bones, which makes it difficult to prepare dishes from it. Capelin does not have small bones, and the main bone is so soft that during cooking it completely decomposes under the influence of high temperatures.

Composition and calorie content

Capelin belongs to dietary products due to its low calorie content, 100 g of fresh mass contains 116 calories. In fried form, it contains up to 300 calories per 100 g, in baked form, up to 200 g. If you use additional ingredients, such as flour, spices and fats, the energy value increases several times more.

By composition, capelin, like all sea fish, is a leader in the content of vitamins A and D. There is a large amount of fluorine, selenium, calcium, iodine in it. Capelin has an advantage over selenium over most meats. Selenium slows down the aging process and helps to eliminate toxins and toxins from the body. Due to this, it is recommended to be obligatory introduced into the diet by older people and those whose occupation is associated with harmful industries.

Capelin is enriched with proteins that are necessary for athletes and physically active people. About 23% of protein compounds are present in the composition of capelin; they are perfectly absorbed by the body, fully saturating it. Therefore, this type of fish is often used as the main ingredient for those who want to lose weight loss. The high content of omega-3 helps to improve the state of the thyroid gland and triggers the process of reducing "bad" cholesterol.

Useful properties of capelin

General benefit

The quality of capelin and the preservation of useful components in it are affected by the features of heat treatment. In a steamed product, the nutritional properties contain tens of times more than when frying in a pan. Capelin, baked without fat and vegetable oil, improves metabolic processes. Its active substances prevent the development of inflammatory processes of the respiratory system.

The beneficial properties of capelin extend to the elimination of problems with coronary heart disease and help reduce the risks of heart attack. The pulp contains a large amount of natural iodine, which makes it possible to make up for its deficiency and serves to prevent the appearance of thyroid pathologies. Saturated fatty acids in capelin eliminate plaques on the walls of blood vessels. To do this, it is enough to consume 400 g of fish pulp weekly.

100 g of fresh capelin pulp contains:

• retinol (vitamin A) - 0.04 mg;
• thiamine (vitamin B1) - 0.03 mg;
• riboflavin (vitamin B2) - 0.2 mg;
• pyridoxine (vitamin B6) - 0.1 mg;
• folic acid (vitamin B9) - 0.017 mg;
• ascorbic acid (vitamin C) - 1 mg.

Such a rich composition allows us to consider capelin as a very useful product for people suffering from problems with cardiac activity and the functioning of the digestive tract. As a result of regular consumption of dishes from this type of fish, metabolic processes in the body normalize, vision is restored, a noticeable surge of strength is felt.

For women

High antioxidant properties improve the functioning of the female genital area. The use of capelin promotes the rejuvenation of body tissues and improves the elasticity of the upper layers of the epidermis. The high content of fluorine and thiamine helps to maintain a healthy skeletal system, which is especially important for women in menopause. Dishes from capelin, thanks to the nutrients contained in them, have a beneficial effect on the condition of nails, skin, and hair.

For men

A nutritious dish of capelin caviar - wasabi - consists of protein compounds that are necessary for the man's body during periods of increased physical exertion. Thanks to phosphorus, the production of sex hormones is activated, as a result of which libido is stabilized, the functioning of the genitourinary system improves.

Regular consumption of boiled or baked capelin is an excellent way to prevent prostatitis and prostate adenoma. Natural antioxidants slow down the aging of body cells, saturate with energy and stimulate activity. A moderate content of polyunsaturated fatty acids prevents the risks of heart attacks and strokes in older men.

During pregnancy

In capelin, steamed or in the oven, a large amount of nutrients was found, which are quickly absorbed by the body of a pregnant woman. The metabolism is activated, the digestive system improves, which is especially important in the late stages of pregnancy, when most women suffer from constipation and heartburn. If there is fish without the addition of fat, oil and flour, then you can adjust the weight, while saturating the body with a large amount of fluorine, phosphorus, folic and ascorbic acids.

When you include capelin in the menu of a pregnant woman, the risks of developing anemia and problems with the hematopoietic system are reduced. There is an improvement in the work of the heart, brain and blood vessels. During the period of bearing a child, increased use of selenium, chromium, cysteine ​​is necessary to prevent problems with hair and nails. Moderate consumption of sea fish avoids the additional intake of these antioxidants in the form of tablets.

When breastfeeding

During breastfeeding, capelin helps to maintain a woman's body in tone, prevents problems with hair and nail plates. Systematic eating of fish is an excellent way to prevent postpartum depression and viral diseases. Due to the high content of phosphorus and fluorine, the baby, along with milk, receives substances important for the development of the musculoskeletal system.

For kids

The composition of the fish has a low amount of connective tissue, which is why it cooks so quickly. In capelin, toxic substances practically do not accumulate, and it can be included in the diet without concern for children. The high content of fluorine and phosphorus strengthens the bone system and teeth, which is necessary for a growing body.

Thanks to zinc and copper, a sufficient amount of nutrients for the full-fledged brain activity and the functioning of the endocrine system enter the child's body. Manganese and iron help to cope with fatigue, prevent anemia and activate metabolism, which is especially important in adolescence.

Taste qualities combined with a high content of vitamins and minerals make the product indispensable in the home menu of every family where children grow. In 1 portion of boiled capelin contains the daily requirement of the growing organism for amino acids (tryptophan, lysine, methionine) necessary for a full life.

When losing weight

Capelin refers to low-calorie foods if steamed or boiled. Without the addition of salt, fat and flour, it contains 116 calories per 100 g of weight. It is recommended to take during weight loss in order to enhance metabolism. For those who want to lose weight, it is important to get rid of slagging of the body. Capelin helps to cope with this problem.

The daily dose of fish during the diet should not exceed 100-300 g.This is provided that it will be steamed, without additional additives and fat. Fish that are caught in the autumn are almost 200% fatter than those that were caught in the sea in early spring.

When forming a diet, it is important to consider individual intolerance and the presence of chronic diseases. It is better to refuse raw pulp, it can contain a large number of parasites, and you can get rid of them only after heat treatment.

With diabetes

Doctors recommend including capelin in the daily diet for patients diagnosed with diabetes. As a result of regular use, there is a decrease in sugar substances in the blood. In addition to normalizing sugar levels, natural processes of insulin production are triggered. The patient's body is saturated with all necessary substances due to the rapid absorption of carbohydrates.

Important: capelin glycemic index - 0 units.

With pancreatitis

With pancreatitis, capelin is recommended in order to lower blood sugar. In patients who regularly include capelin in their diet, insulin production improves due to the activation of pancreatic beta cells. However, you should not overdo it with a fish diet, complications of the overall clinical picture of the disease are possible. Doctors emphasize that during periods of exacerbation of pancreatitis capelin is undesirable, it is better to focus on more lean varieties of fish - cod or pike perch. In the first 2-3 weeks after the treatment of seizures, it is generally better to refuse fish.

With gout

The disease is characterized by severe impairment of uric acid metabolism in the human body. Based on the complexity of the pathology and the features of the progression of the clinical picture, doctors prescribe a diet. In most cases, patients are advised to limit their intake of certain varieties of marine fish.

The flesh of capelin contains many vitamins and minerals, but only in boiled or baked form. So it contains less fat and more folic acid, vitamins A, C and D. Smoked, salted and sun-dried capelin is forbidden for patients with gout. High levels of fat and salt can aggravate the course of the disease and trigger a crisis.

What is useful capelin caviar

Experts recommend using capelin caviar to people of all ages. Its useful substances are necessary for children, the elderly, athletes. The product is not inferior to similar, but expensive delicacies in the content of substances valuable to the body.

The benefits of capelin caviar for humans:

• improves the functioning of the circulatory system;
• relieves fatigue and drowsiness;
• activates the inner vitality;
• is a prophylactic in the development of pathologies of the heart and blood vessels;
• has an antioxidant effect, thereby improving the condition of the skin and rejuvenating cells;
• prevents the accumulation of excess cholesterol;
• compensates for the lack of vitamins A, K, D;
• helps to eliminate toxins and toxins;
• normalizes carbohydrate-fat metabolism.

Regular inclusion of caviar in the diet helps to recover faster after a respiratory infection and physical activity. The product must be eaten by men with impaired sexual function and decreased libido.

The benefits and harms of smoked capelin

Smoked sea fish is a source of iodine, easily digestible proteins and fatty acids. Moderate use of a product prepared in compliance with all technologies helps to reduce the risks of vascular and thyroid diseases. In addition, smoked capelin helps strengthen the immune system.

The inclusion of this fish in the weekly menu has a positive effect on the functioning of the nervous system, and carbohydrate metabolism in the body.Smoked pulp receives a lot of iron, which improves the functioning of the hematopoiesis system. The product is especially recommended for use by people with anemia and vascular problems.

The increased content of carcinogens that accumulate in capelin as a result of smoking can adversely affect the functioning of the kidneys, pancreas. With pancreatitis and chronic cholecystitis, this product is contraindicated. The recommended servings of smoked capelin for an adult are not more than 300 g per week. Daily use of smoked capelin with the use of "liquid smoke" can trigger the development of oncology.

Harm and contraindications

Capelin for the content of vitamins and minerals is a useful product that should be in the diet of every person. However, this species of marine fish has a number of contraindications. The greatest harm can be caused by the abuse of smoked capelin. When smoked in the pulp of the product, carcinogenic substances are formed, which, under certain conditions, can provoke the appearance of malignant tumors.

Any fresh fish may contain internal parasites, which during smoking cannot be completely removed. As a result of eating such a product, pathogenic bacteria and helminthic invasions simply pass into the human body, which causes health problems.

Capelin caught in unfavorable places where there is an increased content of mercury compounds, which accumulate in large quantities in fish, can cause significant harm. Such seafood can cause acute poisoning, exacerbation of chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. It is contraindicated to use capelin to people with individual intolerance to seafood.

How to choose and store

When buying capelin, you first need to pay attention not to its color. If yellowness is noticeable below the fins, the product is not the first freshness. The fish should be flat, beautiful, without damage. The smell characteristic of spoiled seafood is also not to be confused with anything. Capelin with cloudy eyes and mucus in the fins is considered spoiled. It is better to buy slightly thawed fish, so there is less chance of acquiring a bad product.

In a vacuum sterile packaging, at temperatures up to +2 degrees, capelin can be stored for no more than 2 weeks. When freezing a freshly caught slave, its shelf life increases to 3 months. If a fish undergoes repeated thawing and then freezes again, then the risks of developing pathogenic microflora in its pulp are great. When using such a capelin, you can get poisoning.

How to clean capelin

Before cooking, fish should be thawed naturally, eliminating the use of microwave and hot water. For stewing or frying, carcasses remove heads and offal. Then, with a sharp knife, gray plaque is cleaned from all sides of the fish.

After this, the product is thoroughly washed with cold water and prepared for use. Capelin for smoking and salting is not cleaned and not gutted, so it will lose its juice and fat. The pulp will become friable, dry and tasteless.

How to cook capelin delicious: recipes

Capelin is a universal fish. From it you can cook a huge number of delicious dishes. She is very good in baked, smoked, boiled, salted form. There are many recipes for cooking it in a slow cooker, on the grill, grill, in the oven.

In the oven

Capelin baked in the oven preserves almost all the nutrients that are contained in a fresh carcass. After the fish is washed and cleaned of the head and viscera, it is laid out on a baking sheet. Salt and seasonings are added as desired. If necessary, vegetables are placed on top of the fish. The use of sour cream sauce or beaten eggs is allowed.The cooking time is 30 minutes.

In the pan

Fried capelin is in special demand among housewives because of the specific taste with a light bitter taste and strong aroma. The thawed fish washed under running water is cleaned of the entrails and heads, then washed again. In a separate container, flour is prepared for boning each fish with the addition of salt. Fry in hot sunflower oil for 3-5 minutes on each side.

In a slow cooker

In a slow cooker, capelin can be cooked in sour cream sauce, with the addition of cheese, carrots, onions and parsley. The use of tomato juice allows you to get stewed fish that tastes like shop canned goods in tomato sauce. You can cook this kind of fish in batter, on a vegetable pillow, under mayonnaise and cheese.

Before starting cooking, the capelin is thawed, washed with water, cleaned of the head and giblets. After that, mix it with salt and seasonings, leave to marinate for 20-30 minutes. Vegetables are pre-fried or stewed, only then they are placed in the multicooker capelin. All sauces and cheese are laid last. The average cooking time is up to 25 minutes, depending on the power of the device.

Grilled

Capelin carcasses are spread on a fine grill, pre-washed and salted. Smoke should be thick enough with a temperature of about 25 ° C. Chips for this need to be moistened in pre-prepared fish spices. Cooking time - 10-15 hours. Before serving, wait about an hour for all smoke to disappear.

On the grill

To prepare capelin on the brazier, it is recommended to marinate it in spices and salt first. Then a few pieces of fish are wrapped in foil and baked on a wire rack for 5-7 minutes. Previously, the product is thoroughly washed with running water and cleaned from the insides. Cook on a wire rack capelin is not necessary. It is very soft and therefore can just fall apart during baking.

How to pickle

For quick preparation of salted capelin, it is first washed, then placed in a container, sprinkled with layers of salt, and added sunflower oil. Use is recommended enameled or glassware. To taste, add ground black pepper, onion, 1 tbsp. vinegar. The dish will be ready for use in 6-8 hours.

Some housewives prefer to cook salted capelin with the use of brine. To do this, cleaned and washed fish (1 kg) is placed in a pan. In 1 liter of water, 3 tbsp of salt, 3-5 bay leaves, a couple of peas of allspice and cloves are stirred. The mixture is brought to a boil, cooled to room temperature and poured into a capelin container. You can use the product after 24 hours.

How to make canned capelin

Sprats from fresh capelin at home are especially aromatic, with a rich natural taste. Fish are cleaned from the insides, heads and bones. In thick layers, seafood is placed in a roasting pan or pan with thick walls. Pour with brine and put on a slow fire.

For brine you will need:

• chilled strong tea leaves - 150 ml;
• salt to taste;
• liquid smoke - 0.5 tsp;
• black pepper peas - 6-8 pcs.;
• seasoning for fish;
• bay leaf - 3-5 pcs.

Capelin is poured with warm liquid, adding 100 ml of vegetable oil to it. Stew in the oven at 180 degrees after boiling for about 2 hours. When all the liquid has evaporated, and the fish gets a golden hue, canned food is considered ready. Store in a refrigerator under a lid for 10-14 days.

Is it possible to give capelin to dogs and cats

Fresh and high-quality capelin is allowed to give cats and dogs 1-2 times a week. It is worth considering the condition of the digestive tract of the animal, because the fish belongs to fatty varieties. Pre-capelin is cleaned of the insides and heads are removed. Her bones are soft, so animals can easily chew them.Gills are desirable to remove. It is necessary to avoid overfeeding, as there are risks of exacerbation of digestive problems, especially for young individuals.

Interesting Facts

1. On the coasts of the Kola Peninsula, there are huge nests of millions of birds. Such an accumulation of birds in one place is associated with an abundance of capelin in the coastal waters, which attracts more and more inhabitants as light food.
2. In some provinces of Canada in the early weeks of summer, you don’t even need to use boats and nets to fish. Simply go to the seashore and collect the required amount of capelin, which is nailed in large flocks directly to the coast.
3. In Murmansk in the early days of March annually celebrate capelin. Here you can enjoy various fish dishes, learn rare recipes for its preparation and purchase for the future at reduced prices.

Capelin photo