Table of contents:
- The benefits of anchovy are a pity to miss
- 1. Rich in omega-3 fatty acids
- 2. Support bone health
- 3. Good source of protein
- 4. Low in mercury
- Be careful, anchovy is high in salt content
Indonesian people are certainly familiar with anchovies. For most people, eating warm rice with fried anchovies has become a pleasure in itself. Well, do you know that despite its miniature size, anchovies have a myriad of benefits that make you want to eat this fish more often? What are the benefits of anchovy for body health.
The benefits of anchovy are a pity to miss
1. Rich in omega-3 fatty acids
Anchovies are high in omega-3 fatty acids which play an important role in maintaining heart health and brain function.
In fact, according to research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 2006, it is found that consuming two servings of fish oil per week can reduce the risk of dying from heart disease by 36 percent.
The American Heart Association recommends eating two servings of fatty fish each week to meet your omega-3 fatty acid needs.
2. Support bone health
Anchovies are a food source that contains high calcium. Reporting from the Detik Health page, Fiastuti Witjaksono, a clinical nutrition specialist from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia, said that anchovy contains around 500 mg to 972 mg of calcium.
This high calcium content is very good for keeping bones healthy and strong. Not only calcium, anchovies also contain vitamin K, magnesium and phosphorus which are equally good for maintaining bone health. Eating anchovies during breastfeeding can even prevent women from getting osteoporosis early.
3. Good source of protein
Protein is one of the most important nutrients that can help build muscle and body tissue. In addition, protein also functions to produce important enzymes and hormones in the body.
Per 100 grams of anchovy contains 16 grams of protein. Combining anchovy with other protein-rich foods will help you meet your daily protein needs.
Apart from being high in protein, anchovies are also known to be low in calories. This is what can be the perfect choice if you are planning to lose weight.
4. Low in mercury
Mercury is a type of heavy metal that is disposed of from factory and household waste. In water, mercury turns into a substance called methylmercury which binds to proteins in fish muscles.
If you eat fish or other seafood that contains mercury, the mercury content in fish meat will enter your body. The accumulation of mercury in the body in the long term can cause health problems, such as mercury poisoning and even nerve damage, especially in infants and children.
The good news is that the mercury content in anchovy is among the lowest among other fish and seafood products. That is why anchovies can be used as a safe and nutritious food choice for consumption.
Be careful, anchovy is high in salt content
The benefits of anchovies do not need to be doubted, but consuming too much of them can be detrimental to health.
Most of the anchovies are processed by means of salting. This high salt content can cause health problems, such as hypertension. In people who already have high blood pressure, eating too much salty food can make the condition worse.
Eating too much salty food can also harm your bones, because it can trigger loss. So, before eating it, also pay attention to how to process it and how to eat it, yes.
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