Sushi Basics

    Adults in Japan are living longer. Men have a life expectancy of 82 years old and 89 years old for women. More people in Japan live to be 100 or older than in any other place in the world, and by 2050 there are set to be 1 million people. The most significant factor in this momentous life expectancy is diet. The most popular and traditional food served in traditional Japanese cultures is sushi. 

    There are many different types of sushi with varying ingredients, but what they all have in common is rice. Traditional sushi rice is short-grain rice with vinegar which helps it become sticky and easier to pack together. 

Nigiri: The most popular sushi is Nigiri which is a ball of rice with raw fish on top. There are also other options such as tamago (Japanese rolled omelet), cooked meats, or vegetables that may also be placed on top of the rice ball instead of the raw fish. It is tradition to dip the fish side into soy sauce as opposed to dipping the rice side. 

Maki: Sushi roll that is wrapped in nori (seaweed) to hold everything inside. The seaweed is usually on the outside of the roll with rice or fermented soybeans in the middle. In the United States, it is more common to see rice on the outside of the roll. 

Gunkanmaki: A combination of maki and nigiri. Instead of the rice being topped with sturdy ingredients like tamago or raw fish, gunkanmaki is topped with uni (sea urchin), oysters, or ikura with seaweed on the outside. The shape of the sushi is similar to that of a ship, so it is nicknamed “battleship” style sushi

Even though sushi can be considered healthy, it can also be full of calories. To reap benefits from eating sushi, try implementing these ideas:

• Keep it simple: Try a variety of fish for maximum nutritional benefits and to minimize the possible build-up of contaminants such as mercury. Try restaurants that don’t overload on rice and skimp on fish. *** Those with weakened immune systems, children, older adults, and pregnant women should avoid sushi that contains raw fish ***

• Choose your rolls wisely: Try limiting sushi that is fried or that has lots of mayo and cream cheese. 

• Minimize soy sauce: Try opting for lower sodium soy sauce instead of regular and also try dipping the fish into the sushi instead of the rice so that not as much soy sauce is absorbed into the roll. 

Source: https://www.eatright.org/food/cultural-cuisines-and-traditions/east-asian/sushi-basics