Fish

An Introduction

Fish is an exception. It is a rich source of polyunsaturated fatty acids and should be included in your diet at least two or three times a week. So, eat more fish than meat or chicken.  This is the primary reason for the growing popularity of fish - it has proven to be one of the most beneficial foods we can eat.  The  omega-3 fatty acids found in seafood are essenial to optimal childhood development. 

Medical research has proved that children born to mothers who consume higher quantities of omega-3- rich fish are healthier at birth, exhibit higher IQs, and have better health later in life. In fact fish and fisheries plays an important role in the nutrition, livelihood, ecology and health security of different economies. Global demand for fish has doubled since 1973, and ninety percent of the production increase was in developing countries.

Definition

Fish is the flesh of  numerous freshwater and saltwater dwelling cold-blooded aquatic vertebrates. They are typically ectothermic, covered with scales and equipped with two sets of paired fins and several unpaired fins. From a chef's point of view, fishes come in two basic varieties—shellfish and finfish. According to this categorization finfish are equipped with fins, backbones and gills, while shellfish have shells of one form or another.

Globally, consumer demand for fish continues to climb, both amongst the affluent as well as amongst the not so well to do sections. Nearly one billion people, most of them in developing countries, currently depend on fish for their primary source of protein.

People have been catching and eating fish for as long our history itself. Fish is one of the few food resources that man still hunts which make certain species harder to source at certain times of the year.

Why is Fish good for us?

There are four major health advantages from seafood consumption:

Cardo-vascular benefits which reduce the risk of heart attack.

The anti-inflammatory properties of mega-3 products in the body.

Childhood brain and sight development.

Likely anti-cancer benefits.

Popular Fish Species

Most fish are healthy to eat. And fish are an excellent source of low-fat protein. Eating fish may also reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes and other chronic illnesses. Some common food fish species are listed below:

Anchovy

Catfish

Chilean Sea Bass

Cod

Eel

Haddock

Herring

Mackerel

Salmon

Sardine

Scad

Snapper

Tilapia

Trout

Tuna.