When we were little, we have our maternal grandfather who used to buy us things like biscuits,some toys, and some clothes.Since life back then was hard unlike today where one need not to go far out of the village to look for a living to provide daily necessities of the family.
Our grandfather has a monthly pension which he used to buy the little things for our priceless joy.One among the things he liked to bring home was the tilapia. Since its more cheaper than that of milk fish which he also bought sometimes, tastier and less fishy,and lesser bones which is more child friendly for a meal.
He would usually cooked it in an earthen pot over firewood or charcoal.And would fill the pot with "sabeng"-a sour liquid out from fermented sweet potato or cassava.We eat heartily everytime our grandfather would cook us fish.
However, I learned that tilapia is more harmful to our health than that of bacon. It is widely farmed all over the world over crowded fish pens,making them prone to diseases.Thus, farm owners use antibiotics and pesticides to treat them.These may be beneficial to the fish but poses danger to the human body.
Tilapia contains protein which is filled with vitamins and minerals.However,its fat content is more non beneficial. It contains omega 3 fatty acids which is beneficial to ones health as it lowers blood pressure,reduce blood cholesterol, and it boosts the immune system.It also helps prevent arthritis, depression, and even cancer.Omega 3 fatty acid is also known for its benefits in heart health.
It also contains omega 6 fatty acids which is also needed in the body.However it contains more omega 6 than that of omega 3.The normal ratio of omega 6 to omega 3 is 2:4.This clearly implies the danger of tilapia to our health as it is a trigger agent of inflammatory conditions in our body, asthma and arthritis for example..
When I have learned about this before, never did I bought and serve it to my kids unless it came from our community.But I seldomly buy this kind. If I like fish then their are other options unless it was already bought by my husband. Nevertheless, it leads me and him to argue about why it's unhealthy. I usually buy the milk fish or galunggong which is commonly delivered in our area as other sea foods are too expensive.
Tilapia is also being farmed here in our area, and it is fed by store bought fish feeds and others also feed it with some grass which makes one not to worry much. We have lots of fresh water sources that are not polluted and fish pens are not too crowded so its safe,I think to consume this locally grown ones. Unlike other areas, they say that this kind of fish is fed with chicken dung and pig manure.
Is tilapia grown in your area?How was water supply and their food source?Are you confident enough to eat this kind of fish without knowing where it was grown? Or you just love eating it?
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Favorite ko pa naman ang tilapia!!