Monday, August 31, 2009
What is the gray layer under the skin in salmon? Is it okay to eat?
Salmon (and other fish) develop a gray-brown layer of insulating fat between their skin and flesh. This is in addition to fat deposited within the flesh. Yes, it’s okay to eat it. A large amount of the healthy omega-3 fats in salmon are found here. For cosmetic reasons, however, vendors who remove the skin also take off as much of the gray fat as they can. But you may still find some of it on your salmon fillets or smoked salmon.
In general, the fatty layer adds an intensity of flavor, but it has a consistency that some people may dislike. If you scrape it off, rest assured that you are still getting significant amounts of omega-3s from the flesh of the salmon.
Labels: canned salmon, Fat, healthy cooking, healthy diet, Omega-3s, Omega-3s fish oil, salmon
Monday, May 11, 2009
Is the Nutritional Value of Fresh Fish Compromised When Canned?
Does canned fish (salmon or tuna) have any sort of nutritional benefit when compared to fresh fish? Canned light tuna, ordinarily made from skipjack tuna, actually poses a substantially lower risk in terms of mercury exposure than fresh yellowfin or albacore tuna. So this type of tuna-canned light tuna-is the type that's best for you to buy if you want to eat tuna relatively often, for example, about one meal per week. While canned light tuna might not provide you with more nutrients than fresh light tuna, it is still likely to be saving you nutrient supplies by allowing your body to avoid processing unwanted mercury.
A second type of fish that can have some surprising benefits when canned is salmon. Because canned salmon is often packed in its own oil, you may be getting the benefit of some extra omega-3 fatty acids. Canned salmon also includes the bones (which are safe to eat since they soften during the canning process) and these bones can provide you with some added nutritional benefits as well. For example, a 3-ounce serving of salmon has over half the calcium found in an 8-ounce glass of cow's milk.
Labels: calcium, canned salmon, canned tuna, fish, healthy diet, mercury, nutrition, Omega-3s