



Posted by Cheryl Koch, M.S., R.D.
Are you a sushi fanatic or do you have trouble getting past the thought of eating raw fish? Well, it turns out that our national indulgence in this tasty and visually enticing treat from Japan may also be good for our health.
Sushi is generally made with white rice and sweet rice vinegar, fresh vegetables, seaweed, sesame seeds, and cooked or raw seafood. Like many other Japanese foods, sushi tends to be low in fat, cholesterol, and calories. In addition, sushi that has seafood as an ingredient is often an excellent source of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, which lower the risk of blood clots and decrease triglyceride levels.
The fresh vegetables in most sushi also have essential vitamins and minerals. The seaweed wrapping for these rolls is rich in micronutrients and phytochemicals. A few cautions if you are an avid sushi eater but have high blood pressure or are pregnant or nursing. Sushi made with seaweed tends to be a little higher in sodium, as is the soy sauce that each piece is dipped in.
Too much sodium in the diet contributes to high blood pressure. And if you are pregnant or nursing, be sure to avoid sushi made from fish, either raw or cooked. The raw fish may carry unwanted bacteria and any sushi made from fish, whether cooked or uncooked, is likely to contain high levels of mercury.
· Since when is it surprising that sushi is healthy?? Of course it is. The Japanese are the longest living people on earth, and unlike Westerners, to be hideously obese is the rare exception, not the norm. It's obvious sushi is good for you. Posted by diggindignan on Sun, May 06, 2007, 6:26 am PDT
· I enjoy Sushi, because it is different. Is it a health food? According to the article high Mercury,Sodium (in soy sauce), and bacteria make it sound toxic. But it is a change from the ordinary that gets me, and the reason I enjoy eating it 2-3x a month. You could get omega 3s in a piece of cooked salmon, with protein, and some carbs but to call sushi a health food... I am uncertain if I would go that far. Posted by yitmy on Sun, May 06, 2007, 7:11 am PDT
· I am Andrew from Hong Kong, I love sushi very much. I totally agree with you the advantage of sushi,related with low blood pressure,omega-3, minerals and etc. But in reality, summer is coming,does anybody concern about the hygiene of the raw food , in particular,raw fish in kitchen ? Probably they focus more on commercial than knowledge !. If the raw food is not up to a healthy standard, that would be an off set upon any good idea you have mentioned. Posted by morningglory1188 on Sun, May 06, 2007, 1:22 pm PDT
· In Japan, pregnant women eat sushi. And I had never heard that it had harmful effect to children/babies. Also, "sushi made with seaweed tends to be a little higher in sodium" It is funniest thing I ever heard. Do you know that a slice of bread has more(about 2x) sodium than a handfull of salted mixed nuts? Worried about sodium count in seaweed??? How much of this MD's information reliable?? Posted by alienj1 on Mon, May 07, 2007, 7:51 am PDT