Sushi is an extremely popular way to eat fish – and that too raw. While this dish, originally from Japan, has become popular around the world as a comfort food, its immense health benefits are not unknown. However, experts believe it is best to limit or completely eliminate raw fish from your diet, due to the risk of exposure to bacteria, parasites, and pollutants from eating raw or partially cooked seafood. increases which can make you very ill.

Is raw fish safe?

Around the world, other forms of raw fish such as sashimi, sushi, ceviche, oysters and tuna tartare are extremely popular. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says consuming fish or any raw or undercooked meat is risky.

When fish is not cooked, the risk of food poisoning and contracting foodborne bacteria such as listeria increases. SalmonellaOr E. coli, among others. This is why pregnant women are advised not to eat fish.

Other vulnerable groups include people 65 years of age or older, young children and those who are immunocompromised. If they contract a foodborne illness, they may also experience more serious symptoms, which may lead to hospitalization. If you notice symptoms of food poisoning like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or stomach cramps after eating raw fish, contact your doctor immediately.

Risks of Eating Raw Fish

Some of the risks that may arise from coming in contact with raw fish are:

bacteria

Doctors say that the surface of the fish may be full of bacteria. And so, even if you partially cook the fish, it may lead to more bacteria growth.

Eating raw and undercooked fish and shellfish increases your risk of getting sick from bacterial infections, including Vibrio Which causes an infection called vibriosis. Mild vibriosis infection causes severe diarrhea and vomiting as well as skin lesions and ulcers.

tapeworm

In addition to bacteria, there is also a risk of parasites like tapeworms from consuming raw fish, especially if you eat freshwater fish without cooking it.

These infections are most common in Europe, North America, and Asia.

pollution

Some types of fish, such as shark and swordfish, also contain high levels of pollutants such as dioxin and methylmercury, which are highly toxic and take a long time to dissipate in the environment. These compounds contribute to serious health conditions such as cancer, immune system damage, reproductive problems, and nerve tissue toxicity.

How to consume raw fish safely?

To eat raw fish safely, be sure to freeze it beforehand, as frozen seafood is not completely germ-free, but can kill parasites in the food. However, doctors suggest that the safest way to eat seafood is to cook it by making sure it reaches an internal temperature of at least 145 Fahrenheit.

Also, while there is no one-size-fits-all recommendation for how much raw fish you should eat, the recommendation for cooked fish is two servings of fish per week.

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