Catfish is a smooth, flat-skinned fish with a round body, about the size of a thumb. In traditional medicine, catfish is a medicinal ingredient called ngu thu. Traditional medicine assesses catfish as sweet and neutral in nature, with the function of nourishing Qi and blood to fight against aging. Catfish helps to cool down heat, treat diseases related to liver and spleen. Catfish is also a good fish for enhancing sexual strength in middle-aged and elderly men. In terms of calcium content, catfish is believed to have 6 times more calcium than carp and 10 times as much as squid/octopus. Besides being rich in calcium, catfish also contains vitamin D, which helps in the absorption of calcium. In 100g of catfish meat, there are 16.9g of protein, 2g of fat, 3.2g of carbohydrates, 16.9mg of calcium, 3.2mg of iron, 27mg of phosphorus, and other vitamins. Catfish is a good food to supplement nutrition for malnourished individuals, post-treatment patients, middle-aged men, and the elderly.
Fortifying Catfish: Due to its high nutritional content and mild nature, catfish is used as a fortifying food for weak individuals, recovering patients, and malnourished children.
Catfish for Tonifying Kidney and Enhancing Sexual Strength: Catfish is very effective in treating premature ejaculation and helps in tonifying the kidney and enhancing sexual strength. Therefore, catfish is used to support the treatment of cases of sexual debility.
Catfish is Beneficial for the Liver and Digestive System: Catfish helps in the treatment of inflammatory skin conditions, acne, and external skin ulcers. People with mild liver disease are advised to regularly consume catfish. Catfish also aids in enhancing digestion and absorption. According to some studies, catfish has hepatoprotective effects, protecting liver cells and lowering liver enzymes. Individuals with chronic liver inflammation can consume this type of fish to protect their liver.
Catfish is Good for Children: Catfish is rich in calcium and vitamin D, making it beneficial for underweight children and malnourished children. Cooking catfish porridge for young children helps control sweating and supports the prevention of rickets.
Catfish Boosts Immunity and Treats Cough: Catfish helps in improving blood circulation and has many digestive enzymes, which aids in strengthening the immune system and treating tuberculosis, asthma, and bronchitis.
There are many delicious dishes made from catfish that are good for your health, such as:
Since catfish has a lot of mucus, it is necessary to clean the mucus before cooking by using vinegar, salt, stove ash, or sour ash, and then marinate it with ginger, turmeric, pepper, and salt to reduce fishy smell.
In terms of cuisine, catfish is a delicious fish with sweet and firm meat that many people love. Catfish can be prepared into many popular dishes in Vietnam such as fried catfish, braised catfish, and catfish cooked with bananas.
– Catfish cooked in soup with Chinese herbs: After cleaning the catfish, put it in a pot with red apples. After it is thoroughly cooked, season it to taste, adding pepper and chili. Eating it daily for 7 to 10 days can help alleviate itching, cool down heat, and detoxify the body.
– Catfish cooked with pork and added ginger and pepper is good for people who have just recovered from illness, weak individuals, and malnourished children. Buy 100g of clean catfish meat and 50g of lean pork. Cook the catfish until tender and then add the pork, seasoning it to taste. Eat it once a day continuously for 3 weeks, then take a break for 1 week and continue eating. Repeating this dish continuously for 3 months can help improve blood circulation and enhance immunity.
– Catfish porridge for sexual health: Clean the catfish and remove the meat. Stir-fry the catfish meat with sautéed onions until fragrant, then add peanuts, sesame, sugar, and fish sauce, stir-frying them until fragrant again and the fish meat is firm. Cook rice into porridge. Finally, add the fragrant catfish meat to the white porridge and mix well. Eat it while hot, adding spring onion, pepper, and chili according to personal preference.
Moreover, you can prepare catfish into ordinary dishes for everyday meals, such as catfish grilled in betel leaf and served with dipping sauce, braised catfish, and catfish cooked with bananas and beans.
Since catfish lives in muddy areas, it can be infected with many parasites, so it’s important to cook catfish thoroughly before consumption.
