benefits and harms for the body and human health, beneficial properties for women, men, hair, skin

Alaska Pollock (in Latin Theragra chalcogramma) is a commercial cold-loving fish of the cod family, found mainly in the North Pacific Ocean. Everyone has eaten pollock at least once, as it is a fairly common and inexpensive fish in terms of fishing. Pollock fish often does not have a very good reputation for being used in fast food chains that use processed foods.

The nutrients contained in pollock in great variety and in considerable quantity are of great value to the body in preventing cardiovascular and nervous diseases, preventing and treating cancer, increasing the chances of conceiving and having a healthy baby, treating anemia, and much more.

The introduction of pollock as a dietary supplement can protect your eyes from age-related diseases, keep your weight normal, and your skin and hair healthy, reduce any inflammation and reduce pain. The Ministry of Health recommends eating fish at least twice a week.

General benefits

Pollock fish is rich in the mineral content of selenium. Selenium, in turn, reduces the risk of coronary heart disease. One serving of pollock contains about a third of the daily intake of niacin (also known as vitamin B3), which helps relieve chronic inflammation in the body that leads to heart disease. Niacin is an essential nutrient to reduce the risk of having another heart attack.

There are two main types of omega-3 acids that are closely related to heart health: eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). EPA and DHA help lower blood pressure without raising bad cholesterol.

EPA and DHA, which are part of pollock, also play a significant role in the regulation of metabolism. In 2014, studies were conducted on the level of EPA in school-age children, and it was found that obese children have an acute deficiency. And one serving of pollock contains almost half of the recommended daily value of EPA in such cases.

Vitamin B2, aka riboflavin, is a natural antioxidant. It helps prevent the formation of free radicals in the body, which lead to the development of cancer. Riboflavin is also involved in the creation of glutathione, an antioxidant that has a protective function in liver health.

In addition, riboflavin helps in maintaining a healthy mucous membrane of the digestive tract, which is directly related to strengthening the human immune system. Vitamin B2 also has a positive effect on the body’s absorption of nutrients and helps prevent colon cancer in women.

Omega-3 fatty acids (again mainly EPA and DHA) have been implicated in alternative treatments for Alzheimer’s and depression. It is impossible not to mention such important elements that make up pollock, such as vitamin B3 (niacin) and, of course, B12. These vitamins help improve mood, reduce the risk of age-related memory loss, depression, malaise and insomnia.

Vitamin B6 plays an important role in the development of memory, and its deficiency can lead to cognitive impairment and diseases such as Alzheimer’s. It also minimizes neurological disorders by participating in the body’s production of serotonin and norepinephrine. Scientists believe vitamin B6 may help treat or prevent attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which may be caused by low serotonin levels.

Vitamin B6 is essential for maintaining optimal hemoglobin levels in the blood, which ensures oxygen transport to tissues and the accumulation of the iron mineral. The human body needs considerable amounts of vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin, cobalamin), which is involved in the process of hematopoiesis, and also helps prevent the development of a chronic form of megaloblastic anemia.

8. Anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect.Inflammation is at the root of most diseases, so it is important to include foods that minimize inflammation and reduce the amount of processed sugar in the body, which is known to increase inflammation.

Pollock contains nutrients that have anti-inflammatory effects, such as omega-3s, niacin and vitamin B6 to reduce gouty pain.

The riboflavin found in pollock is often used to treat migraines and headaches. In addition, eating foods high in vitamin B6, such as pollock, can help reduce PMS in women by producing essential neurotransmitters.

Benefits for women

Phosphorus also plays an important role in the formation of DNA and RNA during fetal development, and one serving of pollock contains almost half of the RDA.

The presence in the diet of vitamin B6 contained in pollock also reduces the symptoms of toxicosis in the early stages of pregnancy. DHA helps increase breast milk production in young mothers.

Skin Benefits

Hair Benefits

Benefits for men

Harm and contraindications

Pollock can contain a very toxic substance – mercury. However, according to the Global Environment Facility, up to four servings of this product per month are completely safe – provided that no other toxic substances are ingested.

Chemical composition of the product

Nutritional value of pollock (100 g) and the percentage of the daily value:

conclusions

To summarize: with the use of seafood, the body receives protein, the required norm of vitamin B12, as well as polyunsaturated fatty acids Omega-3, which have many beneficial properties.

Sources of Research

The main studies on the benefits and dangers of pollock were carried out by foreign doctors and scientists. Below you can get acquainted with the primary sources of research on the basis of which this article was written:

Additional useful information about pollock

How to use

It is used to prepare minced meat and feed flour. Pollock can be used to make fish soup, cold snacks, cutlets and pies. As a side dish for fish, you can use potatoes, pasta, cereals and vegetable salads. Pollock also goes well with lemon juice, herbs, seasonings, cheese, sour cream and tomato paste.

Like any other fish, pollock should be consumed in moderation (once or twice a week) due to possible contamination of the catching waters with mercury and hazardous emissions. Commercial companies use carefully processed fish to make products for sale such as fish sticks, crab meat, fishburgers, etc.

But it is recommended for a more healthy and high-quality assimilation of fish to use it without such processing, but simply by high-quality frying in olive oil. At the same time, you need to accurately calculate the time so that the fish is not dry when serving.

Pollock can be part of rolls and sushi at home. A tasty and simple dish can be obtained by frying pollock in oil with garlic sauce for about 15 minutes. You can also enjoy the taste of Pollock à la Plancha, which includes fish fillets, potatoes, tomatoes, red peppers and onions. If you want to try something spicy, then it makes sense to cook stewed pollock with chili and spicy aromatic herbs such as rosemary and basil.

How to choose

Soft white pollock meat can be found at most grocery stores in the country. It can be found in forms such as surimi and imitation crab meat. When buying fish, you need to be guided by the following principles:

• From an environmental point of view, you should avoid buying fish caught in a prohibited geographical area.
• When buying fish, you should give preference to reputable companies involved in catching, storing and selling seafood.
• You should also avoid vacuum sealed seafood subject to long-term freezing, as well as fish derivatives such as fish sticks.
• The fish must be caught no later than 48–72 hours before the sale.
• The first thing that gives out the staleness of the fish is an unpleasant smell, so when buying, make sure that it is absent.
• If you are planning to purchase frozen fish products, it is best to stick to well-known brands.
• The color of the fish should be white, without various shades and spots.
• If fish fillets are sold in their original packaging, check the composition. There should only be 2 words on the label: fish and water.
• The highest quality product from manufacturers in Russia, China, Japan.

How to store

• You need to store pollock in the refrigerator.
• Avoid the proximity of fish with other products.
• Before storage, it must be wrapped in several layers of cellophane and placed in a separate compartment or on a separate shelf.
• The fish can be stored in the freezer (up to 9 months), but it cannot be re-frozen.

History of occurrence

Pollock was first mentioned in the work of A. Popov in 1930. The Koreans were the first to start fishing for pollock. According to documentary data, they have been conducting it for 300 years. Even the word “pollock” came to Russia from Korea, it is associated with the concept of a holiday. Until now, Koreans treat pollock with special respect. In Korean cuisine, pollock is used completely, without waste and leftovers.

Russia (more precisely, the USSR) became interested in pollock fishing in the late forties of the twentieth century. Large concentrations of pollock were found off the coast of Kamchatka. However, then the fish was considered unfit for human consumption. After that, the active catch of pollock began to be produced only in 1960, and by the beginning of the 70s, the catch had grown to 2 million tons. Currently, about 90% of the total catch comes from Russia and the United States.

How and where is it mined

Pollock belongs to the cod family. More common in the North Pacific. The maximum length of the fish is 91 cm, and the weight reaches 4 kg, the maximum life span is 15 years. Pollock lives in cold waters and swims at a depth of 200-300 meters. It is used to prepare the world famous McDonald’s fast food – Filet-o-Fish.

Pollock, unlike salmon and other commercial fish species, is caught in natural conditions, and this, in turn, indicates the absence of antibiotics, pesticides and other chemical compounds. There are a number of organizations, such as Greenpeace, which are actively fighting the extermination of endangered species of animals and the decline in populations of the existing ones.

But the pollock population today is not subject to decline and extinction, with the exception of certain natural and geographical zones, such as the western part of the Bering Sea.

Pollock natural habitat: Asian coast, American coast, ocean waters. Russian catches in 2015 amounted to 1652 thousand tons. Alaska pollock comes to the Russian markets thanks to the catch by domestic vessels in the seas of the Far East. The catch takes place mainly in March, when the fish rises from the depths for spawning. Germany is the largest importer of pollock among the EU countries, followed by France.

Interesting Facts

• “Crab sticks” are made from pollock.
• Pollock tastes slightly softer than cod.
• Pollock catches are second only to those of Peruvian anchovy.
• Pollock is a predatory fish that feeds mainly on plankton.
• A pollock female can produce about half a million eggs at a time.
• In the USSR, for a long time, the full value of pollock was not recognized, and almost all the catch was used for the production of feed for fur animals.
• In Russia, pollock is often called “fish for the poor”.
• In Japan, Korea and China, pollock is considered the most environmentally friendly and healthy product. In these countries, it is used to prepare national dishes.
• In oriental cuisine, pollock is cooked with radish and seasoned with soy sauce.