Eating poke can be bad for you, here is why. Totes Newsworthy would like to inform many readers that the consumption of many Pokes or Sushi may be extremely harmful to your health. At first, it may seem like a very healthy protein, but what is the drawback. You think it’s fish and that should be healthy. Well, in theory, it may have some issues. This article explains why eating Poke may cause health issues.
Eating Poke Can Be Bad For You, Here is Why
Poke is a traditional dish from Hawaii, which is made from diced raw fish, most commonly yellowfin or “ahi” tuna, or (octopus).
Its other conventional ingredients are soy sauce, seaweed, chili peppers, sea salt, sesame oil, and cinnamon (a condiment made from roasted candlenut and salt), served over sushi rice. There has been an assortment of adaptations that have followed in the footsteps of their traditional ancestor’s rise in popularity over the past six years. These modern versions of the dish can include the use of teriyaki sauce, mushrooms, crispy onions, and pineapple. In Hawaii, the recipe can be found at any number of places, and it is becoming more and more popular in the mainland United States.
One of the main reasons for the rise in Poke’s popularity is the fact it appeals to those who are following a Paleo diet or those who are more health-conscious. This is due to the high levels of omega-three fatty acids, B vitamins, and protein found in ahi tuna. As its popularity has risen, however, health professionals have warned about the potential dangers of consuming too much poke.
Eating Poke Can Be Bad For You, Here is Why
Ahi tuna, which is also one of the most common ingredients in sushi, is already listed as a high-mercury fish that should be eaten sparingly or not at all. On top of that, it has been calculated that the amount of mercury found in these fish has been rising at about four percent per year.
With the rate of popularity for tuna poke bowls ever-increasing, this means many people are consuming way more of this fish than recommended and putting far more than they anticipate into their bodies.
How Does Mercury Get into Tuna and Other Seafood?
The primary cause for the levels of mercury in the fish we consume is the number of industrial pollutants that enter our oceans every day, from coal plants, mines, and from natural sources such as volcanoes.
Mercury is converted to methylmercury when it reaches our oceans and wetlands. Methylmercury is quickly and efficiently absorbed by fish’s bodies. The mercury bioaccumulates in the organisms of fish in the same way it does in humans, and it is passed through the food chain, starting with small fish and plankton.
Eating Poke Can Be Bad For You, Here is Why
The longer a species of fish lives, along with how high it is on the food chain, the more mercury it will contain.
The fish that eat other fish like Tuna and Swordfish and different types such as Barracuda is the worst. Our oceans are very polluted, and we are eating fish with extremely high mercury levels.
How Does Mercury Affect your Body?
Mercury is a heavy metal, much like iron and zinc. However, unlike iron and zinc, it has no positive function in the human body. On the other hand, it can have numerous adverse effects on the brain and kidneys.
Mercury is either excreted by the body in feces or enters the bloodstream, where it heads to the kidneys and brain. The kidneys can store mercury in a non-toxic form by binding it with a protein contained in them called metallothionein.
The body can cope with moderate levels of mercury, as long as the dosage does not overwhelm the system. If the body stores too much mercury in a short space of time, this can lead to mercury toxicity.
There is a limit to the amount of mercury, the body will store in a year; however, after which it will be excreted.
Eating Poke Can Be Bad For You, Here is Why
Alternatively, mercury can also travel to the brain. If mercury does go to the brain, it crosses the blood-brain barrier. Once it does this, it can cause neurological problems. It can do so as methylmercury binds to cysteine and looks to the brain as a common amino acid.
This process can luckily be inhibited by neutral abundant amino acids, provided – as before – that the system is not overwhelmed by the amount of methylmercury in the body. Symptoms of high-level methylmercury exposure include “signs of madness,” lack of coordination, and muscle weakness, along with altered vision, speech, and hearing.
It is especially damaging to the brain and nervous system if exposure to mercury happens in the womb. Therefore, it is recommended that women who are pregnant limit the amount of seafood they eat, specifically tuna, swordfish, and oysters.
Intake of tuna should also be strictly regulated for young children, women of childbearing age who plan to have children shortly, and those who have been deemed at risk of mercury poisoning.
So here are some tips to help you understand what you are consuming.
Read more – Is Poke Healthy for You
