A
practitioner at the Federal Medical Centre in Abuja, has warned the
general public of the life-threatening repercussions of excessive
consumption of catfish.
Catfish peper soup (Photo: Sisi Yemmie)
Speaking in an interview with newsmen on Thursday in Abuja, a
medical practitioner, Dr Arikawe Adeolu, revealed that excessive
consumption of catfish could increase the chances of developing
cardiovascular diseases.
According to Vanguard, the practitioner at the Federal Medical
Centre, Jabi, Abuja, who gave the warning, said that catfish contained
omega-6 fatty acids, which could increase the level of inflammation in
the body.
He added that inflammation was the underlying cause of
cardiovascular diseases, certain cancers and diabetes. He said that
although catfish also contained omega-3 fatty acids, which had a lot of
health benefits, the ratio of omega-6 was far greater than omega-3 fatty
acids.
While explaining further, Adeolu said that this made it necessary
for the fish to be consumed in moderation to prevent health
complications. “Catfish is rich in two fatty acids – omega-3 fatty acids and the omega-6 fatty acids.
“The omega-3 fatty acids help reduce the concentration of bad
cholesterol in the blood stream and increase the concentration of good
cholesterol in the blood stream.
“It also helps protect the heart and the cardiovascular system
from any form of disease, prevents inflammation within the body and
helps reduce the quantity or concentration of inflammatory substances in
the body.
“The underlining basis for most cardiovascular diseases,
diabetes, cancer, Alzheimer disease and many other diseases that we know
today, is chronic inflammation, which signifies a long standing
inflammation in the body.
“This is where the catfish controversy comes in. A lot of
reports have advised against eating it and this is because although it
contains omega-3 fatty acids, which have many health benefits, it
contains more omega-6 fatty acids.
“Omega-6 fatty acids are pro-inflammatory in the sense that
they increase the level of inflammation within the body and make one
more predisposed to any kind of disease.
“When catfish features a lot in your diet, you consume more
omega-6 fatty acids in your diet than the protective omega-3 fatty
acids.
“Therefore, you are more predisposed to diseases if you consume
a lot of catfish. The optimal ratio of omega-6 fatty acids to omega-3
fatty acids is supposed to be four to one, but because the catfish is
reared artificially and is fed with synthesized food, the ratio can be
up to ten to one,’’ he said.
Adeolu also said even though there were a lot of controversies
surrounding the consumption of catfish, it still held some advantages
over most fishes consumed today, adding that catfish was a good source
of protein, rich in essential amino acids needed to build muscles, bones
and different tissues in the body.
He explained that catfish contained a moderate amount of calories
per serving or per gram, hence, was an ideal choice for those watching
their body weight.
According to him, catfish is rich in phosphorus and magnesium,
which are essential micro-nutrients that play a significant role in a
lot of biochemical processes in the body.
“Catfish has a very low amount of mercury, which is very toxic
to the human body and can, when consumed in large quantities, damage the
nervous system,“ Adeolu said.
When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)
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