Is Cod Healthy?

Cod fish is considered as a healthy and nutritious fish. Here are some health benefits of cod fish:

• Cod promotes heart health – Cod is a type of fish very rich in omega 3 acid which is known to be a healthy acid, especially beneficial for the cardiovascular system.

• Cod fish will protect you from heart arrhythmia – Fish consumption is very healthy, including the consumption of cod fish. A person who consumes fish, including cod regularly will have fewer problems with heart arrhythmia.

• Cod fish will reduce the risk of ischemic stroke – Fish should be consumed at least three times a month if you want to get protected against ischemic stroke.

• Cod fish will help control the blood pressure – Persons who have a rich diet in omega 3 acids originating from fish consumption, including cod, will have a normal blood pressure. Omega 3 acid can even help control the blood pressure. Omega 3 acid supplements are recommended for persons diagnosed with heart diseases, hypertension, diabetes, etc.

• Cod fish may protect you against Alzheimer’s disease – Is cod good for you? According to a study conducted by the University of California, DHA-rich diet is thought to reduce the development of Alzheimer’s disease.

• Cod fish may reduce the risk of cancer – Omega 3 acid is very healthy and beneficial for the human body. Foods that are rich in omega 3 acid just like cod fish can reduce the risk of various types of cancer as well, such as colon cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, etc.

• Cod fish will protect you from deep vein thrombosis – Consuming fish at least once a week, along with fruits and vegetables will reduce the risk of deep vein thrombosis and even protect you.

• Cod will lower the triglycerides level – Eating fish at least twice or three times a week will reduce the level of triglycerides and LDL, while it will increase the levels of HDL because it contains omega 3 acids. Is cod good for you? Of course.

• Cod fish will provide you with 90% of RDI of vitamin A – The cod liver oil from cod fish originating from the Atlantic Ocean will provide you with about 90% of RDI of vitamin A. Vitamin A is known to have many health benefits in the human body. Eating cod liver will make your skin glow, help wounds recover faster, prevent atherosclerosis and coronary diseases.

• Cod will help you build muscle mass – And for this reason, cod and other types of fish are popular among bodybuilders. Due to the fact that cod is high in arginine, it is excellent for bodybuilding.

Is cod good for you? Yes. But it also has certain side effects. Cod has high amounts of sodium, especially after it gets treated with a salt solution to prevent moisture loss during thawing. Persons who have problems with high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases should avoid eating cod.

Cod has small amounts of mercury as well. However, compared to other fish it is nutritious and healthy. Smaller amounts of mercury, like cod fish contains are not risky for a person’s health. Fish that are high in mercury can be toxic and harmful to the health, so they are not recommended for young children and pregnant women.

Is Cod Fish Safe to Eat During Pregnancy?

Cod contains mercury and because of this, it is not safe to eat it during pregnancy. According to FDA, pregnant women and children under the age of 6 should consume only fish that are low in mercury, twice a day. High amounts of mercury can damage the developing fetus or a newborn and for this reason, it is very important to check the type of fish woman consume

When selecting cod fish, just with any other types of fish or seafood it is very important to select fresh fish. Local reputable stores are great places where you can always get fresh fish, including fresh cod.

Cod fillets should be placed on top of the ice, while a whole cod should be buried in ice. If cod is not displayed in these two ways in the store that perhaps it is not safe to consume that kind of cod. When buying cod fish, watch cod fillets. They should have only minimal gaping. Fillets should gleam as well.

You can detect a fresh fish by its smell as well. For this reason, you should get a fresh fish whenever you can instead of getting prepackaged cod. If by the smell it does not smell good to you then you better turn in back to the fishmonger.

Storage is another part where you should pay attention too when it comes to fish. Cod and almost any seafood are very sensitive to temperature. Therefore, you should make sure to put cod fish in the refrigerator as soon as possible. If you leave the cod outside in the room temperature for long, it will get spoiled.

In order to create an optimal temperature for storing cod and other types of seafood, you should use special storage methods. As the temperature in most refrigerators is not ideal for storing fish, you should add some ice to the dish where you have just put your cod. Once you have filled the dish with ice, make sure to put it in the coolest area of the refrigerator, on the bottom shelf of course. Also, if the fish is going to stay for a long time in the refrigerator, for example during the day or even overnight then don’t forget to replenish it with ice.

How long cod can stay in a dish filled with ice in the refrigerator will depend on when the fish was caught. If the fish was caught the same day or a day before you bought it, then it can easily remain stored in this way for about four days without getting spoiled. However, if the fish was caught a couple of days before, then it should remain stored in this way for only a day or two, otherwise, it will get spoiled.

Here are some serving tips on how you can enjoy cod fish:

• You can steam a cod over a miso soup. Serve it garnished with shiitake mushrooms, scallions, daikon.

• You can braise cod with tomatoes, garlic, olives, and Italian herbs.

• You can make a fish soup with cod, garlic, onions, vegetables, and broth.

• You can pouch cod with water or broth. You can add lemon juice and parsley as well. Let it simmer until the flesh of the fish becomes flaky and opaque.

• You can bake the cod in the oven if you prefer. Add some fresh chopped herbs and a little broth or lemon juice as well.