Popularity of sushi has brought rise in parasitic infections, warn doctors

From nigiri to temaki, sushi has boomed in popularity in the west, but now doctors are warning of a less appetising trend: a rise in parasitic infections.

A team of doctors from Portugal raised concerns after a 32-year old man was admitted to hospital complaining of pain in his abdomen just below his ribs, vomiting and had a slight fever, all of which had lasted for a week.

An endoscopy soon revealed the culprit: the larvae of a type of parasitic worm from the genus Anisakis. The doctors note that the condition, known as anisakiasis, is caused by eating undercooked or raw fish or seafood that has been contaminated: indeed, questioning of the patient revealed that he had recently eaten sushi.

After the larva was removed the man rapidly recovered, say the medics.

Two views of the parasite, seen here firmly attached to an area of the patient’s upper gastrointestinal tract. Photograph: Carmo et al/BMJ case reports

Writing in the journal BMJ Case reports, the team warn that with sushi in vogue in the west, awareness of anisakiasis is growing.

“Most of the cases were described in Japan due to food habits; however, it has been increasingly recognised in western countries,” the authors write, pointing to a Spanish study that reported 25 cases of the condition over a three year period from 1999 to 2002, with all patients having eating raw anchovies, as well as Italian research which flagged both anchovies and sushi as routes by which individuals could become infected.

The Italian study added that medical professionals should suspect the condition should patients complain of severe abdominal pain after eating raw fish, pointing out that “no effective pharmacological treatment is able to kill the larvae once eaten”.

Indeed, as the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention notes, “The treatment for anisakiasis may require removal of the worm from the body by endoscopy or surgery.”

The authors of the latest report add that besides the symptoms shown in the Portuguese case, the condition can also trigger a host of other symptoms including severe allergic reaction, as well as complications such as digestive bleeding, bowel obstruction and peritonitis.

The Food Standards Agency noted that raw fish occasionally contain parasitic larvae, but said that under European food hygiene legislation fish that is to be eaten raw should be frozen before it is sold to consumers to ensure any parasites have been killed.

The FSA added that fish and meat should always be cooked properly according to the producer’s instructions, but offered a few tips to those planning to make their own sushi.

“If you do choose to make your own sushi from fish at home, ensure you follow a reputable recipe,” the FSA advised. “If wild fish are to be eaten raw or lightly cooked, ensure that all parts, especially the thickest part, have been frozen for at least four days in a domestic freezer at -15C or colder. This will ensure that any undetected Anisakis larvae are killed.”

Popularity of sushi has brought rise in parasitic infections, warn doctors

The Overall health Rewards of Nori (the Seaweed That Wraps Sushi)

Nori is an edible red seaweed that is popular in East Asia, specially Japan. In the West, it is perhaps best known as the seaweed that wraps pieces of sushi, though it is also used as a garnish, for flavoring noodle dishes and soups, or as a wellness supplement. Without a doubt, as the nutritional value of nori continues to come to light, much more and much more well being foods stores throughout the world are beginning to promote it in fresh or dried type.

Wealthy in protein – a hundred grams of nori incorporate in between thirty and 50 grams of protein, producing it one of the plant world’s richest sources of protein and comparable in density to spirulina, chlorella, and soybeans. Protein is necessary for constructing and repairing muscle groups, developing enzymes and antibodies, and cell upkeep and growth.

Lowers cholesterol – In accordance to a research published in the June 2001 edition of the British Journal of Nutrition, when rats that have been on an otherwise substantial-cholesterol diet regime have been fed nori, their LDL cholesterol amounts lowered, suggesting that nori plays an essential part in stabilizing cholesterol levels. Perhaps this is due to the fact nori is remarkably wealthy in omega-3 fatty acids, which are properly-identified for minimizing LDL cholesterol. They also assist reduced blood stress, as a result generating nori outstanding for the cardiovascular technique.

Dietary fiber – Nori is comprised of around 33 percent dietary fiber, creating it an powerful laxative and a great remedy for constipation. Also, considering that higher-fiber food items have the potential to make you come to feel full for longer, nori is also a great weight reduction foods (a truth that is reinforced by its low calorie and excess fat articles).

Lowers cancer risk – A study published in the Might 2010 edition of the British Journal of Nutrition identified that the standard consumption of nori was linked to lowered rates of breast cancer for menopausal and pre-menopausal girls. This is unsurprising, because nori is rich in antioxidants this kind of as vitamin C that support neutralize the cancer-leading to results of cost-free radicals.

Substantial in iron – one hundred grams of nori include approximately 88 percent of our advised every day consumption of iron, making it an very rich supply of this significantly-necessary mineral. Furthermore, a Venezuelan examine published in 2007 for the Journal of Nutrition showed that nori, not like many grains and beans, doesn’t incorporate phytates, which can drastically decrease the absorption rate of iron.

Improves bone wellness – 100 grams of nori include 280 milligrams of calcium (28 percent of our RDI) and 300 milligrams of magnesium (85 percent of our RDI). Whilst we all know that calcium is very good for the bones and is necessary to stop osteoporosis, lesser-acknowledged is that fact that we also need to have magnesium to assist absorb it. Given that nori consists of sizable quantities of the two, it is the excellent bone-builder.

Impressive iodine content material – Sea veggies are the plant world’s premier source of iodine, and nori doesn’t disappoint. 100 grams of it contain around six milligrams of this very crucial mineral. Without a doubt, according to the Food Requirements Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), 1 sushi roll wrapped in nori contains 92 micrograms of iodine, which is shut to an adult’s RDI of 150 micrograms. Iodine deficiencies are really common in the West and can lead to critical situations this kind of as goiter and hyperthyroidism.

Aside form the nutrients previously mentioned, 100 grams of nori also give us with vitamin A (288 % of our RDI), thiamine (60 %), riboflavin (194 percent), niacin (78 %), folate (475 %), as well as extraordinary amounts of phosphorous, potassium, zinc, and nutritional vitamins C, E, and K.

Michael Ravensthorpe is an independent writer whose investigation interests contain nutrition, different medicine, and bushcraft. He is the creator of the website, Spiritfoods, by way of which he promotes the world’s healthiest foods.

The Overall health Rewards of Nori (the Seaweed That Wraps Sushi)