Fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, tuna, trout, sardines, and herring have oil in their tissues and in the belly cavity around the gut. Fillets also contain a considerable amount of oil up to 30 percent. This is in contrast with white fish, which only contain oil in their liver.
Although the phrase “fatty fish Menu” sounds unhealthy, the converse is the case in this situation because fatty fish is perhaps the tastiest and healthiest food from our water bodies. They are packed with omega-3 fatty, vitamins A and D at a much higher concentration than white fish making them more beneficial to humans, especially in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases and the management of chronic inflammatory conditions like arthritis.
What are catfish?
Catfish are a diverse group of fish named for their prominent barbells, which give the image of cat-like whiskers. Catfish are found primarily in freshwater environments of all kinds, with species on every continent except Antarctica. Some species from the families Ariidae and Plotosidae are also found in marine environments.
There are armor-plated types and also naked types, however, they do not have scales. Not all catfish families have prominent barbells; what defines a fish as being in the order Siluriformes are certain features of the skull and swimbladder.
Catfish have no scales. All catfish, except members of the Electric Catfish family, possess a strong, hollow, bony leading ray on their dorsal and pectoral fins, through which a stinging protein can be delivered if the fish is irritated. In members of the family Plotosidae (Eeltail Catfish) and of the genus Heteropneustes (Sri Lanka Stinging catfish), this protein is so strong it can put a human being in hospital if they are unfortunate enough to receive a sting.
Catfish have a sweet, mild flesh which makes them important as food fish throughout the world. Blue Catfish and Bullheads (Ictalurids) are cultivated in North America (especially in the Deep South, with Mississippi being the largest domestic catfish producer. Airbreathing Catfish (Clariids) and Shark Catfish (Pangasiidae) are heavily cultured in Africa and Asia.
Catfish are a diverse group of fish named for their prominent barbells, which give the image of cat-like whiskers. Catfish are found primarily in freshwater environments of all kinds, with species on every continent except Antarctica. Some species from the families Ariidae and Plotosidae are also found in marine environments.
There are armor-plated types and also naked types, however, they do not have scales. Not all catfish families have prominent barbells; what defines a fish as being in the order Siluriformes are certain features of the skull and swimbladder.
Catfish have no scales. All catfish, except members of the Electric Catfish family, possess a strong, hollow, bony leading ray on their dorsal and pectoral fins, through which a stinging protein can be delivered if the fish is irritated. In members of the family Plotosidae (Eeltail Catfish) and of the genus Heteropneustes (Sri Lanka Stinging catfish), this protein is so strong it can put a human being in hospital if they are unfortunate enough to receive a sting.
Catfish have a sweet, mild flesh which makes them important as food fish throughout the world. Blue Catfish and Bullheads (Ictalurids) are cultivated in North America (especially in the Deep South, with Mississippi being the largest domestic catfish producer. Airbreathing Catfish (Clariids) and Shark Catfish (Pangasiidae) are heavily cultured in Africa and Asia.
Is Catfish A Fatty Fish?
Studies have shown that the total unsaturated fatty acids (FA) in the purified catfish oil amounted to 67.7%. The combined n−3 FA content of the purified catfish oil was 4.6 mg/g of oil. The purified catfish oil contained 1.21 mg/g DHA. According to healthline, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends eating up to 8 ounces of fish or other seafood each week. One reason for this recommendation is that catfish and other seafood tend to provide more omega-3 fatty acids than other foods.Omega-3 fatty acids are renowned for their role in brain health.
Although more research is needed, they may even help treat neurological and mental conditions, including memory loss, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and depression. What’s more, omega-3s are linked to improvements in skeletal muscle strength, heart health, and even the gut microbiome — the collection of healthy bacteria in your gut. A review of 23 studies in over 1 million people associated eating fish with an overall lower risk of death — and a 7% reduction in the chance of death for every 200 mg of omega-3s consumed daily.
Given that your body cannot produce omega-3s on its own, you need to get them through your diet. One 3.5-ounce (100-gram) catfish fillet delivers 237 mg or 15–20% of the Adequate Intake (AI) for adults. While catfish does provide omega-3s, it is a leaner fish that provides fewer fatty acids than a fatty fish like salmon.
A 3-ounce serving of fatty fish like salmon can contain up to 1,800 mg of omega-3s compared with a 3-ounce serving of catfish which contains only 200 mg of omega-3s. See Fatty Fish Side Effects
Catfish contains around 20 fatty acids with a greater proportion of Lauric acid while stearic acid has the least. Lauric acid is a medium-chain saturated fatty acid, also known as a medium-chain triglyceride (MCT). Typically, saturated fats are considered to be bad for your health. However, lauric acid has a variety of health benefits, including antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and anticancer properties.
According to a 2015 study in the European Journal of Lipid Science and Technology, these different saturated fatty acids all have varied roles, functions, and fates within the body. Many of lauric acid’s benefits are due to monolaurin. Monolaurin is created by the body when products containing lauric acid are ingested. It’s also possible to take monolaurin on its own. Catfish is also a good source of fish oil for health benefits especially due to the presence of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid.
