Salmon

Salmon

Salmon is considered a healthy food because of its amazing amount of omega-3 fatty acids, protein and high Vitamin D content, . Omega-3 is good for heart and brain health. It is called 'essential fatty acid' because our body cannot make it. Apart from Omega-3 fatty acids, salmon provides vitamins and minerals (including potassium, selenium and vitamin B12). Other health benefits include:

Helping to maintain insulin level in the body;

Improving memory and brain functions;

Helping in preventing muscular degeneration;

Reducing the risk of colon, kidney and prostrate cancers;

Helping in maintaining healthy hair and skin;

Helping in osteoarthritis and other inflammatory joint conditions;

Reducing depression;

Tryptophan present in salmon helps to sleep well;

Complete nutrition content of salmon is found here in the USDA database,

Salmon is also a source of cholesterol, with a range of 23–214 mg/100 g depending on the species.

According to reports in the journal "Science", farmed salmon may contain high levels of dioxins. PCB (polychlorinated biphenyl) levels may be up to eight times higher in farmed salmon than in wild salmon, but still well below levels considered dangerous. According to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association 2006, eating even farmed salmon is beneficial as its benefits outweigh risks imposed by contaminants. Farmed salmon is shown to have a high omega 3 fatty acid content compared to wild salmon.

Consuming two servings of 150 grams per week is considered adequate for a person. If you consume more than this quantity then try other varieties of fish to get different nutritional benefits of other types of fish. .

Almost 99% of the Atlantic Salmon is farmed while 80% of the Pacific salmon is caught in the wild.

Fish farmers often feed their stock with soy and corn, both are heavily genetically modified crops. Therefore farmed salmon is not as good as wild-caught fish. Some farmers also feed their salmon with pink die so that their flesh will look like the wild-caught fish.

Salmon has a long history. It has long been at the heart of the culture and livelihood of coastal dwellers. It has been mentioned in several mythologies. In Celtic mythology, "The Boyhood Deeds of Fionn", the Salmon will grant powers of knowledge to whoever eats it. In Welsh mythology, "Culhwch and Olwen", King Arthur's men Cai and Bedwyr are led to the Salmon of Llyn Llyw, who lets them ride its back to the walls of Mabon's prison in Gloucester.

In Norse mythology, after Loki tricked the blind god Höðr into killing his brother Baldr, Loki jumped into a river and transformed himself into a salmon to escape punishment from the other gods. When they held out a net to trap him he attempted to leap over it but was caught by Thor who grabbed him by the tail with his hand, and this is why the salmon's tail is tapered.

Large fish consume smaller fish and therefore accumulate higher levels of mercury. This process is called biomagnification. Species such as shark, tuna, tilefish and swordfish have high levels of mercury and are best to be avoided completely. Salmon are very low in mercury as they are small in size and eat only plants.