Cod is a valuable commercial fish from the sturgeon family, which is known for its dietary benefits. White meat of this fish is rich in healthy substances and at the same time low-calorie (only 70 calories per 100 grams), but cod liver deserves no less attention, from which canned food is made. Of great importance is the method of harvesting the liver, the most useful is the preparation of canned food from fresh fish, but today sometimes for these purposes use frozen cod, in this case, the content of nutrients is significantly reduced.
It is almost impossible to control the cooking method; only additional information about the breeder plant can tell about it: when harvesting fresh fish, it should be on the water and immediately start processing after the catch. Therefore, when buying a cod liver, you should prefer the well-known, well-proven brands. “Correct” cod liver is prepared in its own fat, without adding vegetable oil, black pepper, salt, sugar, bay leaf can be added from spices. If the composition of the specified vegetable oil, then, most likely, it was previously frozen and lost its beneficial properties, lost fat.
Useful properties of cod liver
The benefits of cod liver is its rich and diverse vitamin composition. It contains vitamin A, C, D, E, PP, B1, B2, B6, B9. The greatest concentration falls on vitamin A - a well-known antioxidant, a substance necessary for maintaining a full-fledged vision, preserving youth and beauty. Vitamins of group B are the “building blocks” of the nervous system, with their prosperity, a person does not know what irritability, stress, and increased fatigue are. Also, with the balance of these vitamins in the body, the metabolism of fats takes place in the right way, calories are transformed into energy, and do not go into fat reserves. Also impressive is the mineral composition of cod liver. When this product is included in the ration, the body is saturated with iron, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium, zinc, chromium, iodine, fluorine, molybdenum, nickel and chlorine. These macro and microelements favorably affect the work of the heart, blood vessels, potassium and magnesium to protect the heart muscle from premature depletion, phosphorus is necessary for brain activity, calcium strengthens bones, teeth, hair, nails, and connective tissues, other minerals are necessary for healthy passage of all metabolic processes in the body.
We should also separately mention omega-3 fatty acid, which is rich in cod liver. Scientists have found that the diet of modern man is practically deprived of this valuable substance, because the world has begun a craze for diets that imply the abandonment of animal fats or the abuse of fast food, which is dominated by empty vegetable fats. At the same time, omega-3 acid is not produced by the body and must be supplied to it with food. And its lack is fraught with the development of the most serious, dangerous diseases and conditions, such as heart attack, stroke, atherosclerosis, asthma, polyarthritis, lupus, malignant and benign tumors.
In many regions of Russia, and indeed throughout the world, people are deficient in iodine. Iodine in the form of supplements is not always justified and appropriate, it is desirable that the doctor controls it. But to enter into the diet of cod liver, rich in iodine, is much easier, moreover, all the substances present in it are represented in an easily digestible natural form, which, of course, is much better than chemical analogues. Cod liver will be useful in adolescence, as it will have a positive effect on the formation of the bone skeleton, as well as the central nervous system. For the same reason, it is also shown to older people in order to maintain health and delay old age. There is evidence that cod liver is an effective prevention of Alzheimer's disease.
In reasonable quantities, cod liver oil is useful for pregnant women and lactating mothers. For the fetus, the by-product will become a source of nutrients, and a repressive mother will give a tiny portion of vitamin D, which is necessary for the prevention of rickets, through milk. But to abuse the liver is not worth it, an excess of vitamin A will have a bad effect on the development of the baby in the womb.
How many calories in cod liver
Cod liver is quite fatty and caloric, 100 grams of the product contains 600-620 calories. It is recommended to use it with vegetable or protein products: vegetables, herbs, eggs.
Cod liver damage
It is worth to refrain from consuming cod liver in case of intolerance to fish oil, allergic reactions to fish and seafood, for diseases of the gall bladder, thyroid gland. You can not eat cod liver, if the oil when opening canned food has a dark appearance and a rancid smell.
