Here's What Happens To Your Body When You Eat Sushi Every Day
Perhaps our obsession with sushi has something to do with the fact that Japan is the country with one of the world's highest life expectancies, at around 84 years of age (via World Bank). With a long and storied history, sushi has been a way for Japanese people to reap the health benefits of the seafood that is so prevalent in seas and oceans that surround the island nation (via Sushi FAQ).
Its popularity has spread outside the country which made it famous and today you can find sushi (of varying quality, of course) in most major cities in the world.
While sushi has a well deserved reputation as a healthy food — movie star Jonah Hill credits an all-sushi diet with helping him lose a significant amount of weight (via Jamie Geller) — there are some drawbacks to eating sushi so regularly. Here's what happens if you eat sushi on a daily basis.
The rice vinegar in the sushi rice will provide amino acids
The word "sushi" comes from a Japanese word for "sour rice," which is an essential component of traditional sushi (via Food Beast). The ingredient that provides that sour bite in the sushi rice is rice vinegar (via Livestrong). As the name suggests, rice vinegar is vinegar distilled from rice (via The Kitchn).
Rice vinegar contains amino acids that boost the body's immune system and combat free radicals (via Style Craze). The amino acids also help to combat buildup of lactic acid in the blood, and in turn this results in energy and fights fatigue. Rice vinegar also contains a second type of acid, acetic acid. In addition to being beneficial for digestive health, acetic acid also aids the body in absorbing more nutrients like calcium, potassium, and other vitamins.
Studies have also found that rice vinegar is helpful for weight loss.
You might be ingesting dangerous amounts of mercury
One potential drawback of constant sushi consumption is the amount of mercury some fish can contain. Fish that are popular in sushi like tuna, mackerel, yellowtail, and sea bass contain significant levels of mercury, which can cause brain problems if ingested in high amounts (via The Oracle). Mercury poisoning, although rare, even if you consume a lot of sushi, can lead to headaches, vision impairment, lack of coordination, as well as insomnia and irritability (via The Mic).
While it has a lot to do with what type of fish you're consuming, doctors believe that if you're eating sushi on a daily basis, you could easily be taking in too much mercury (via The Chart). Expectant mothers are warned to avoid certain types of fish while they're pregnant as mercury can be especially harmful for fetuses while they're developing (via March of Dimes).
The omega-3 fatty acids will keep you sharp
Studies have shown that the omega-3 acids which are commonplace in fish are extremely important when it comes to brain health and function (via Healthline). Our bodies don't produces these compounds so we have to take them in via the food we eat (via The Washington State Department of Health). Some studies have shown that for people with moderate memory loss, or age-related cognitive decline were able to benefit from the addition of omega-3 acids to their diet, although those with more significant cognitive issues such as Alzheimer's disease, did not benefit from them (via Healthline).
They're also considered to be quite effective at fighting depression. If you're already taking anti-depressants for depression, studies have shown that the omega-3 fatty acids may aid in improving how effective they are.
You may improve your heart health
Fish is widely ranked as one of the most hearth healthy foods that can be eaten and The American Heart Association even suggests eating it twice a week to reap its benefits for heat health. The omega-3 fatty acids are thought to decrease abnormal heartbeats, which can lead to sudden death. The acids also help to lower the blood pressure a bit, and can slow the growth of plaque in the arteries.
A study of 40,000 men in the United States found that those who ate fish at least once per week had a 15 percent lower risk of heart disease than those that didn't.
While fatty things aren't typically thought of as being healthy, fatty fish, like salmon, are high in levels of omega-3 acids, so they are considered very good for heart health.