Why Sushi is known as one of the Healthiest Meals in the World?

Ever wondered why the Japanese are counted amongst the healthiest people in the world? The answer is, owing to the health benefits associated with sushi. Sushi is more than a scrumptious lunch when you are in Japan. With very low amount of fat, most of which is polysaturated, sushi reduces the risk of heart diseases and cancer. Consumption of raw fish, rice and fresh vegetables in the form of sushi offers multiple health related benefits right from weight loss, muscle recovery, cholesterol check and counteracting free radical damage to improving digestion.

Traditional Sushi Rolls that are made up of raw fish, rice, vegetables and nori are low in calories. If you want to further reduce the amount of calories subtract the items from the roll. Remove the fish from the roll to make it a vegetable roll and bring the calorie count further down. It is recommended to avoid tempura and deep fried sushi and sauces that contain mayonnaise. Find out what are the different ingredients used in the making of sushi and how they individually benefit the human body:

Fish: Studies say that Japanese consume 100gm of fish everyday as sushi, tempura and sashimi. The omega3 fatty acid in fish protects the heart and improves blood circulation in the body. However, some fish contain parasitic worms, therefore, it is better if they are cooked before consuming so that all worms are killed.

Rice: Rice is something without which you cannot think of sushi. A rich source of energy and protein, rice has been used for years to treat digestive disorders and to give relief from diarrhea. White rice is said to have less nutrients as compared to brown rice. Brown rice, on the other hand, has phytic acid that prevents the body from absorbing iron and calcium.

Wasabi: The green colored paste that is often served with sushi is wasabi. Wasabi is known for its numerous health benefits. The presence of compounds called isothiocyanates in wasabi helps in the prevention of tooth decay and regular consumption also prevents cancer and blood clots.

Seaweed: Seaweed is an important part of the Japanese meal and is popular for its concentrated mineral content. Seaweed is mostly used in the Japanese food to enhance the flavor and is also a good source of iodine that is essential for a healthy thyroid. Apart from this, seaweed has high content of calcium, copper, iron and magnesium.