Salmon: benefits and harm to the human body

Salmon fish are considered delicious, therefore, dishes prepared from salmon have a special taste. Several decades ago, this type of fish was not so popular, the main reason for this was the high cost of the product. Such seafood was a delicacy that was used in special cases. Nowadays, everything has changed, this variety of fish is much more often present on tables, served in cafes and restaurants, and is available in specialized stores.

A large spectrum of useful components has been found in salmon fillet. There are countless options for getting dishes out of it. So, salmon can be boiled, steamed, stewed, fried. However, it is important to study the information about the beneficial and harmful qualities of such a delicacy in order to know in which cases the fish will be useful and in which it is better to refuse it.

What does salmon look like and where is it found?

Salmon is a large marine inhabitant belonging to the Salmonids. Fish can have a length of up to 150 cm. Some individuals weigh more than 3 tens of kilograms. The skin of the fish is characterized by a silver color, the scales are small, on the lateral parts there are dark spots. The fins are colored red. The head is long, the mouth is large. The meat is famous for its nutritional value and excellent taste. The caviar is quite large in size, characterized by a rich orange color.

Fish lives in the Atlantic Ocean, most often found in the northern regions, artificially grown in northern Europe, as well as in Norway.

What is the difference between salmon and trout and salmon

Salmon is a common name for individuals of the Salmonidae family. This group also includes salmon with trout. Salmon is called salmon, the meat of which has a bright color. After heat treatment, the color of the fillet does not change.

Trout is smaller. So, the longest fish can have a length of 1 m, while its weight reaches 20 kg. However, most often these are fish weighing 500-600 g with a length of 20-30 cm. The meat of such a fish is not so high-calorie and saturated. After heat treatment, the color is lost, the meat turns white.

Salmon is fatter than trout. Her fat is evenly distributed throughout her body, moreover, salmon has less fatty layers. Trout is considered a dietary product, it has much less fat.

Composition and calorie content

Salmon fillet contains many useful substances. So, seafood is enriched with vitamin B substances. Thiamine is involved in metabolic processes, riboflavin is responsible for vision and retina perception of shades. Pantothenic acid provides the exchange and formation of hemoglobin, pyridoxine enhances immunity. Moreover, this compound is useful in that it helps reduce the likelihood of gynecological pathologies among the female half. For men, vitamin B6 is useful in that it can cope with the threat of infertility. Cyanocobalamin is a participant in the process of hematopoiesis.

Also, salmon contains vitamin E or tocopherol, which has antioxidant properties and responds to reproductive functions.

The mineral composition of seafood is represented by potassium, which is involved in most reactions that occur in the body, phosphorus - a substance required for tooth enamel and bone tissue, iodine, which is responsible for the normal activity of the thyroid gland. Magnesium, together with nicotinic acid, has a beneficial effect on the general well-being of a person.

In addition, omega-3 fatty acids have been found in fish. They are designed to reduce the level of "bad" cholesterol, help cleanse blood vessels.

There is also melatonin in the salmon pulp, which in combination with the pituitary hormone allows you to establish sleep. The product is rich in easily digestible protein. So, it is enough to eat a small piece of fish to provide the body with a daily protein requirement.

The calorie content of salmon is only 153 kcal.

What is salmon good for?

General benefit

Red fish is a valuable product that has the ability to influence blood formation processes. Omega-3 acids lower cholesterol, which helps prevent the appearance of atherosclerosis, normalize blood pressure. In addition, this product is a prophylactic against anemia, has a rejuvenating effect due to the presence of melatonin.

The product helps regulate the level of stress hormones that lead to spasms of the heart muscle, which helps to eliminate the symptoms of depression and asthenia, as well as improve mood. The beneficial effects of fish on heart function and vascular health are noted.

Salmon caviar is also endowed with useful elements, in particular protein, which is easily digested. The components of this component are needed to increase hemoglobin level, stabilize blood pressure, normal development and functioning of the whole organism. A large level of iodine was found in salmon caviar fat. In red varieties of fish there are no carbohydrates, in addition, its composition does not contain harmful saturated fats. A high concentration of nutrients has a positive effect on the dermis, which is why lovers of salmon and its caviar age more slowly.

For salmon, restoring characteristics are also characteristic. In the course of a series of studies, it was found that this particular variety of marine fish is characterized by a maximum level of acids, which affect the processes of natural aging of a person. In addition, these components have a beneficial effect on the brain, reducing the risk of developing problems with memory and concentration.

For women

For the fairer sex, fish is useful in that it helps to alleviate the condition during the menopause. Marked effect on the skin. Omega-3 and -6 along with retinol and tocopherol provide faster renewal of dermal cells, hair growth and their strengthening.

Melatonin allows you to overcome insomnia, phosphorus with vitamin D improves the central nervous system, stimulate the development of bone tissue and increase physical endurance.

Another advantage of using salmon for the female half of humanity is the presence of leptin in it, which increases the rate of material metabolism, which helps to reduce weight.

For men

Most often, it is men who are more prone to the development of cardiological pathologies. Therefore, it is useful for them to introduce this variety of fish into the diet. After all, the balanced composition of the product strengthens blood vessels and maintains the tone and elasticity of capillaries.

Also in the salmon there are amino acids that are easily absorbed. This seafood property benefits people involved in sports. Red fish helps restore muscle tissue and promotes rapid recovery after injuries and diseases.

During pregnancy

Despite the rich composition of salmon and the presence of polyunsaturated acids, while waiting for the baby, it is still recommended to limit the use of dishes based on this product.The high allergenicity of fish fillets is dangerous because intrauterine harm can be caused to an unborn baby.

When breastfeeding

The same restriction applies to the period of breastfeeding. This is due to the fact that red varieties of fish can lead to severe allergic reactions. Specialists advise introducing salmon and dishes from it into the diet of a nursing woman in small portions. In this case, you should definitely follow the reaction of the baby.

For kids

Fish is a source of vitamins, beneficial acids and mineral compounds for the baby. You can enter such an ingredient in a children's diet from the age of three, given the state of health. This is because the red fish species can cause allergies. For this reason, it is necessary to introduce such a component into the baby’s menu gradually, being careful, otherwise you can harm a child’s, fragile body.

When losing weight

Salmon is widely used in diet food. It is enriched with vitamins and minerals. The calorie content of dishes from this fish depends on the method of preparation. This indicator allows you to use this product if necessary to get rid of excess weight. Salmon is a low-calorie fish with a balanced composition, which makes it indispensable for diets. In addition, it is poor in carbohydrates. Due to the high concentration of protein, the product is excellent for a protein diet.

Lightly salted salmon: benefits and harms

This method of harvesting allows you to get a delicacy, which is usually served at the festive table. Fish in this form can act as a separate dish or additive in various snacks, salads, sandwiches.

The nutritional value of such a treat is somewhat increasing. This is due to the fact that increasing the concentration of protein, as well as water released due to salt. Salted salmon is recommended for individuals who follow a protein diet. The benefit of this delicacy is slightly lower due to the presence of salt in it.

Lightly salted salmon should not be consumed by people who have kidney disease, as well as increased acidity.

Is smoked salmon healthy?

Smoked salmon contains fatty acids that prevent the development of atherosclerosis and heart disease. It is useful for people whose activities are associated with increased physical activity. Smoked red fish is a source of beneficial micro and macro elements, as well as a number of vitamins. The components of this delicacy help strengthen the defenses, improve the functioning of the brain, and also restore the body after serious illness.

The danger of smoked fish is that special smokes are used during processing, in which carcinogens can accumulate. For this reason, such a treat should be present in the diet no more than 1 time per week.

Is it possible to eat salmon for various diseases

Salmon has many medicinal properties. This allows you to use it in the preparation of the diet for patients of different categories. So, the product can be entered into the menu for disorders of the nervous system, pathologies of the cardiovascular system.

With diabetes

With sugar disease, salmon is considered a useful product. With regular and proper use of such fish, the formation of fat deposits is significantly reduced, the content of harmful fats is reduced.

In fish, there is a protein that contributes to the production of insulin, which is very important for patients in this category. In addition, this protein is easily absorbed, which allows you to increase the body's immune forces and protect the patient from the development of complications.

Salmon helps to saturate the human body with vitamins, minerals. This is the prevention of diabetes. In order for red fish to benefit patients, you need to consume about 150 g of salmon per day.

Salted fish, canned seafood, fish roe, as well as smoked and fried salmon are contraindicated for diabetics.

With pancreatitis

During exacerbation, fish dishes from the diet should be excluded. This is due to the increased fat content of this fish variety. The pancreas, as you know, is the main organ of the digestive tract, which is involved in the breakdown of fats.

The period of persistent remission is also not a reason for eating salmon. In this case, it is better to give preference to less fatty varieties.

Salmon can be entered into the menu only with the full restoration of the pancreas, when the patient no longer needs to take medications. It is allowed to eat fish boiled or stewed and not more than 100 g.

With gastritis

Fat-soluble vitamins and minerals necessary for the body are present in salmon. However, in the presence of gastritis, there are some limitations in use. Due to the high fat content, the product is prohibited for consumption during the period of exacerbation of the inflammatory process. The restriction applies to all forms of gastritis (both with high and low acidity of gastric juice).

During remission, such seafood should be introduced into food with caution. Only a piece of boiled fillet is allowed. It is contraindicated to eat canned, smoked fish.

With gout

The exacerbation period is a contraindication to the reception of meat and fish dishes. Food should contain as few purines as possible. These components provide the synthesis of uric acid. A high purine content stimulates the release of this acid, the salts of which begin to be deposited in the joints, leading to an exacerbation of the inflammatory process.

With this disease, it is not recommended to eat fish. This is due to the fact that it contains many purines.

Harm and contraindications

Despite the great benefits of salmon, it can also harm the body. Delicacy is contraindicated in the presence of a food allergy to seafood.

It is believed that when living in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, mercury accumulates in fish. The concentration of this substance increases with the age of the marine inhabitant, which is especially dangerous with weak immunity.

The danger is a fish that has been subjected to freezing several times. As a result of this process, all the beneficial properties of the goodies are lost.

In the presence of excess weight, you can not eat fried salmon.

How to choose and store

In order to choose the right salmon, you should first study the information on the label. No extraneous additives should be indicated here. The vacuum packaging must be intact, without damage, the color of the product - from pink-red to red.

If the fish is in stock, its storage should be carried out only in the refrigerator. The shelf life of seafood depends on the specific temperature. For example, if salmon is bought frozen, it should be stored only in the freezer. If the fish is chilled or smoked, then you can use some rules. So, to preserve the juiciness of salmon, it must be placed in a bowl filled with ice. You can also use icing for such purposes, that is, put the fish in a bowl filled with water so that the carcasses are completely immersed in water. After that, send the fish tank to the freezer. Once ice forms, the product must be wrapped in ordinary plastic bags and loaded back into the freezer.

If you sprinkle the fillet with lemon squeeze, it will retain more juiciness.

If salmon was purchased in a separate tray or container, it should be stored without opening this package.Opening the lid is recommended only before direct use.

Keep fish away from food. It can be wrapped in foil or wrapped with cling film. When open, the product dries quickly.

At a temperature of -4 ... -8 degrees, salmon can be stored for a month and a half. If the storage temperature is 0 ... + 6 degrees, then the shelf life of the fish is reduced to 1 month. In this case, the countdown is from the day of packaging of the delicacy, usually it is indicated on the container.

Is it possible to freeze slightly salted salmon

Salmon can be frozen. The degree of salinity in this case does not affect the shelf life in the freezer. In this case, the fillet should be cut into slices and packaged in packages so that one serving is enough at a time. Before freezing the fillet, it is recommended to moisten a little with vinegar 3%, and best of all with a solution of lemon juice. After this, the meat must be processed with olive oil.

How to clean and cut salmon

The first step is to clean the fish from the scales. Then rinse the carcasses thoroughly with water, cut them and remove the entrails. You should remember about the film in the abdominal cavity, it also needs to be removed. After that, rinse the salmon again.

Now separate the head, fins and tail. In this case, care must be taken not to prick. After cutting the upper part of the carcass across and divide into slices a few centimeters. These pieces are great for steak. The lower part is cut along the ridge. If meat remains on the bone, this part can be used to make fish soup. It is necessary to remove costal bones from pieces of meat.

How to salt salmon at home

Today, there are many producers whose activities are aimed at the preparation of canned goods and preserves. The quality of such products may be different. Experienced housewives are used to cooking it with their own hands at home. Different parts of salmon are used for salting, but most often they use the abdomen of a fish, believing that the main benefit of such a product is concentrated here. The classic salted fish recipe is pretty simple.

To do this, you need 1 kg of fish fillet, 2 tbsp. salt, 1 tbsp granulated sugar and a little black pepper. First you need to rinse the meat and dry it. Next, pour half the indicated amount of sugar, salt and a little pepper on the bottom of the dishes. Now lay the salmon skin down. Spread the rest of the spices over the meat. Tighten the preform with cling film and send to the refrigerator for 12-15 hours. After the specified time, remove the dishes, flip the pieces of fish and send again to a cold place. Lightly salted salmon will be ready for use in a day.

How to cook salmon tasty: recipes

The method of preparation of salmon depends on the taste preferences and culinary abilities of each hostess. There are a lot of recipes that allow you to get tasty and healthy dishes. Cutting such a fish is not easy, but the result is worth it, because in the end you will get a dish of excellent taste, which will also bring great benefits to the body.

In the oven

This option of cooking delicacy is great for those who monitor their weight. Additional components can be chosen at your discretion. For cooking fish in the oven, only meat is used, the head with the tail is laid aside for the first dish. It should be noted that during cooking almost all the healing properties of the product are preserved. Red varieties of fish are combined with cream and milk-based sauces, so they are often baked with cream.

So, you will need 200 g of salmon fillet, 50 ml of olive oil, 100 g of cream, onion, lavrushka, pepper and salt to taste and 2 tbsp. mustard seeds.

To begin with, dry a well-washed fish, put in parchment paper, sprinkle with olive oil. After that, send the fish blank into the oven, heated to 180 degrees, until cooked. At this time, fry the onions until golden brown, add all remaining ingredients and bring the mass to a boil. Strain the resulting sauce and pour salmon on it. The dish is ready to serve.

In the pan

Probably everyone loves fresh fried fish, because it is so delicious, especially when it comes to salmon. Cooking such a dish is very easy. Of the ingredients, you will need only the fish itself, as well as vegetable oil and salt and pepper to taste.

The cleaned carcasses need to be cut into steaks, the thickness of which does not exceed 2 cm. The resulting pieces are seasoned with salt and pepper on both sides. Preheat the pan, heat the oil well and put the prepared pieces of fish into it. Fry over high heat until golden brown. On average, it takes 2-3 minutes to fry one side. Fried salmon can be served.

In a slow cooker

To cook salmon with a slow cooker and get a tasty dish, you should know about the secret ingredient. So, if you stew fish in cream, it will get an unusual aftertaste and smell.

First you need to prepare all the products. In this case, you will need 500 g of salmon, 300 ml of cream, the fat content of which is 20%, several branches of dill, as well as spices to taste.

Thawed or fresh fish should be washed under water, remove excess moisture. Grate all slices of the delicacy with pepper and salt. Also prepare and chop dill in advance. Now put the slices of red fish in the bowl of the device. In this case, it is not necessary to use vegetable oil to process the container. Next, fill the fish with cream. Then turn on the “Extinguishing” function.

It usually takes no more than 20 minutes to prepare such a dish, provided that the multicooker lid is closed. Serve ready-made salmon with fresh vegetables and dill.

Grilled

To get a real grilled steak, it is recommended to use an open heat. Charcoal is best suited for this purpose. You can also cook seafood in a pan, but the light smell of smoke will add a delicious taste to the dish.

It will take 1 kg of red fish, 40 ml of sunflower oil, spices in the form of herbs, salt and pepper. For the sauce, you need to prepare 200 g of low-fat sour cream, lemon juice, fresh herbs, as well as a few cloves of garlic.

Cut the salmon into small slices, sprinkle with oil, sprinkle with pepper, salt. To this also add a squeeze of one lemon. Harvest must be marinated for 20 minutes. After that, the fish can be put on the grill and fry on both sides to a ruddy surface. The finished dish goes well with fresh vegetables and rice.

On the grill

Cooking salmon on the grill is very simple. The result is a tasty, satisfying and healthy dish.

Ingredients: fish, mayonnaise, lemon, onions, herbs and spices.

First you need to prepare the fish. Preparation consists in washing it, removing entrails, fins and excess moisture. After that, mix the remaining components in a small container. The resulting marinade process pieces of fish. In this form, salmon should be pickled for several hours. Now kindle the coals, grease the grill with onion. This is to prevent the pieces of fish from sticking. Next, lay out the seafood slices so that there is room between them. It takes 15 minutes to fry one side, after which you can turn the wire over and fry the other side. As a side dish, you can use vegetables, which can be fresh or fried on charcoal.

What can be cooked from salmon: recipes

Salmon is a very tasty and healthy variety of fish. It should be included in the diet to enrich the body with many valuable substances. From this product you can get a wide variety of delicious and nutritious food for both ordinary and festive table.

Salad

For the salad you will need the following components: 100 g of slightly salted red fish, 2 boiled eggs, 100 g of hard cheese, 1 tomato, 4 lettuce, 6 tbsp. mayonnaise.

Cut salted salmon into small cubes. Eggs should also be prepared, while separating the whites from the yolks and grating them. Cut the tomato into small cubes.

Next lay the dish in layers. The first layer will be lettuce leaves. Put fish on top, then protein, make a net of mayonnaise. The next layer will be grated cheese. Put the egg yolk on it and again make the mayonnaise net. Add tomato slices at the end, then grease again with mayonnaise. The salad is very light and tender.

Ear

For the preparation of the first dish, the abdomen, head and tail of salmon are usually used. All these parts should be washed and placed in a pan. Pour the meat with cold water, then cook with one whole onion. If foam appears, it must be removed. Also, add carrots, potatoes and spices to the dishes with fish. Cook the dish until vegetables are ready. Before serving, it is recommended to season the soup with herbs. The benefit of such a treat is that the fish in this case goes through the most gentle method of heat treatment - boiling. This allows you to save a lot of useful qualities of the product.

Cutlets

Ingredients: 0.5 kg of fresh red fish, 200 g of hard cheese, parsley, egg, salt and paprika.

Peeled fish meat should be passed through a meat grinder or blender. Drain the resulting liquid by squeezing out the minced meat a little.

Rub the cheese on a coarse grater, finely chop the greens. Now mix all the ingredients, add the egg and season with spices. Knead the minced meat until a homogeneous consistency is obtained.

After that, coat the baking dish with oil, on which put the patties formed. It is recommended to put some grated cheese inside the minced fish cakes. Bake the dish in the oven at a temperature of 200 degrees 10-15 minutes.

Roll

This dish looks very impressive on the festive table. For fish roll you will need 200 g of salted red fish, 150 g of frozen spinach, 100 g of grated hard cheese, 5 chicken eggs, 200 g of cottage cheese, greens if desired.

First you need to defrost the spinach and chop it, you can use whole leaves. Beat eggs in foam. To them add cheese with spinach. Salt and pepper the resulting mass. Next, preheat the oven to 200 degrees. Cover the baking dish with special paper and put this mixture on it with a thin layer. Place the pan in the oven for 10 minutes, then cool. Then evenly spread the curd cheese, fresh herbs, and on top the salmon on the entire surface of the base. Now roll it all up in a tight roll and put on a transparent film.

Pack this roll tightly and send to the refrigerator. You can eat it in an hour, but it’s best to wait a few more hours for it to soak. Before serving, carefully roll the roll into thin slices.

Sandwiches

Necessary products: bread, salted salmon, cream cheese and greens for decoration. First you need to take the toaster bread and use a special mold or an ordinary glass to cut the blanks for sandwiches. Grease the obtained pieces of bread with cream cheese, put greens on the edges, roll a piece of salmon and put on top. This appetizer is made quickly and easily.

Barbecue

If there is no barbecue or you can’t go outdoors, you can use ordinary wooden skewers and cook kebabs in the oven. In addition to fish, you will need vegetable-based oil, soy sauce, a few cloves of garlic, dried dill, lemon, bay leaf and black pepper.

First you need to prepare the salmon by cutting it into cubes. Then chop the garlic, put in a bowl, squeeze the juice of one lemon here. Also add black pepper, dried spice, bay leaf and a couple of spoons of olive oil. Instead of salt, soy sauce is used. For this, 4 tablespoons will be enough. In the resulting marinade, place the fish and mix everything carefully so as not to damage the meat.Such a delicacy should be pickled at least half an hour. Then string it on wooden skewers, which can easily be found in any store. Of course, such a kebab is best obtained when grilling on charcoal, but in the oven it will be delicious. At the same time, it takes no more than 20 minutes to cook. The temperature of the device should be 220 degrees.

Mousse

Such a treat is suitable for making sandwiches or filling profiteroles. So, to obtain mousse, you need 200 g of cream cheese and the same amount of slightly salted salmon, as well as half a lemon and ground black pepper to taste.

A blender bowl is best for making mousse. In this bowl, put cream cheese and salmon, cut into pieces. Squeeze the lemon juice here. At the same time, it is important to taste the workpiece so as not to overdo it with lemon. Next, grind the mass with a blender until a lush mixture is formed. Pepper the obtained mousse, salt if necessary. Serve this dish cold.

Is it possible to eat raw fish

First of all, it should be noted that eating raw or improperly prepared fish is dangerous due to infection by parasites. Salmon can be eaten raw, but only if a person is confident in its quality, otherwise you can earn a number of diseases. Worms, as you know, adversely affect the cardiovascular system, genitourinary, musculoskeletal, nervous, etc. In addition, immunity is reduced, which becomes the reason for the development of a number of diseases. Parasites are able to stick to internal organs.

It should be noted that it is in raw fish that a high level of chemical elements is noted.

Interesting Facts

1. Previously, a variety of red fish such as salmon was caught in such quantities that it was not a delicacy. So, in some literary sources it was written that in Scotland during hiring laborers sometimes even told people on purpose that they would not be fed very often with such fish.
2. Salmon can capture the smell of a native reservoir at a distance of 700-800 km from its mouth.
3. In ancient times, salmon was one of the main food products, thanks to which the Russian people managed to master the northern parts of the mainland. In memory of this, the salmon on the Belomorsky Canal is simply called a fish, as a sign of great respect.
4. During spawning, salmon can lay up to 25 thousand eggs.
5. After spawning, such a fish loses half its body weight.

Salmon photo