Is Sushi Healthy?

Sushi is definitely an acquired taste. People seem to either love it or hate it and those who love it often can’t get enough. But, it’s normal to wonder if sushi is healthy for us and how is sushi healthy if so. Because there are so many types of sushi and misconceptions about the traditional Japanese cuisine, we will take a look here and attempt to clear a few things up.

When asked what sushi is, most people will quickly respond “raw fish” when asked what it is but they would only be partially correct. Technically, sushi is a type of rice. We have come to understand sushi, however, as a variety of Japanese food including sushi rice and all of the foods served with it, often raw fish. When asking is sushi healthy, you must pay attention to which type of sushi you are talking about.

One of the most popular sushi dishes in the United States are the various rolls. They typically contain sushi rice, a variety of vegetables, and one kind of seafood. Not actually Japanese, the California Roll includes cucumber, avocado, and crab. This type of sushi is quite healthy, particularly if you choose a roll with several vegetables.

Sashimi is for sushi snobs and definitely isn’t as popular but maybe the healthiest. It is sliced pieces of raw fish often served over sushi rice with wasabi. These can be healthy as well as long as you trust the sushi chef. Food safety is key when determining if sashimi is healthy.

Seafood and any raw meats have a higher chance of being contaminated than vegetables or rice. For this reason, you want to choose a sushi restaurant with a good reputation and clean atmosphere. For raw seafood in particular, parasites can be an issue. However, if the fish is handled, transported, and prepared correctly, even raw sashimi is healthy.

Sushi is usually an extremely healthy choice. It is commonly low fat and low in calories. Although abundant in rice, you can choose to eat sashimi without the rice if you are concerned about the added white carbs. Many varieties of sushi are a great source of Omega 3s. There are unhealthy sushi options as well though, so be sure to steer clear of fried tempura and sushi selections that include dumplings, cream cheese and other fattening items.