How much sashimi is too much

Their eyes bore into a spicy salmon roll with the intensity of a wild animal sizing up its prey. They appear to eat the stuff for every meal.

And the fact that it's raw has to be upping their chance of acquiring some kind of parasite, right? The facts: Sushi is, for the most part, perfectly good for you, what with its healthy fats and punch of protein. But then things happen like a man in Fresno pulling a five-foot tapeworm out of his rectum because he got a parasitic infection from eating sushi and you start to wonder.

There can be some nasty side effects to eating raw fish, including exposure to environmental contaminants , parasites such as Anisakiasis or Diphyllobothrium nihonkaiense , and disease-causing bacteria such as Vibrio parahaemolyticus , Vibrio vulnificus , and Mesophilic Aeromonas , which can make you shit-your-pants sick. Salmonella and Listeriosis can also be contracted from eating sushi gone bad. Of course, probability is a factor here; the more sushi you eat the higher your chances of contracting something rare, like that Fresno man who says he ate sushi every day did, but it's still unlikely.

If you are a big sushi fan, then you are probably guilty of having a date with King Crab Rolls or Smoked Salmon even three times a week. According to a registered dietician, healthy adults can safely consume sushi rolls, which means pieces of sushi per week. However, the statistics are different for the elderly, pregnant women and others with the compromised digestive system. Mercury is a concern for most people when it comes to fish, but not all fish carry the same mercury risk.

You should moderate your consumption of these types of fish in sashimi, nigiri or otherwise. Those Kae rolls you love so much, are made from fish that are much lower in mercury content, meaning you can safely eat it more often.

This includes salmon, crab, shrimp, and eel. Sushi can be a healthy choice, but it depends on the variety you order. Oily fish such as salmon and tuna contain omega-3, which is an essential fatty acid.

While raw fish may be delicious, it can also harbor some nasty secrets. We won't go into too much detail, but let's just say a man with a daily sushi habit found himself having to deal with an uninvited pest that eventually sent him to the hospital to seek out medical treatment via SF Gate. Back in , the CDC warned that a growing appetite for sushi has also triggered a rise in cases involving Diphyllobothriasis or fish tapeworm infection , symptoms of which include diarrhea, fatigue, stomach cramps, weakness, and unintended weight loss via Healthline.

Raw fish isn't just a parasitic Trojan horse. According to a study reported by Vice , both salmonella found in 1. We're not saying that you will get sick whenever you eat sushi — but the chances of coming down with something only increase when you eat sushi every day.

Even if you and your sushi supplier are dead certain that your fish is fresh and safe, there is one more thing you need to worry about when you eat sushi every day: Exposure to high amounts of mercury, which has the ability to damage the central nervous system.

Whether you are a spicy tuna roll aficionado or simply can't live without your weekly dose of a negi hamachi roll, there's no denying it: Sushi is freaking amazing. But while you would love to schedule a nightly date with a king crab roll for one and a platter of sashimi on the side if given the chance, you might be wondering exactly how much sushi is safe to eat on a regular basis.

To put your mind at ease: "Sushi, which is mostly made up of seaweed, rice, vegetables and fish is a healthy meal option," says Barbie Boules , R.

Healthy adults can safely consume two to three rolls pieces of sushi per week, says Boules. Sure, mercury is a concern for most people when it comes to fish, says Claire Martin, R. And rightfully so: Mercury poisoning can cause headaches, dizziness, developmental delays, brain damage, and even organ failure.