What is carp?

Carp (Cyprinus carpio) is a fish belonging to the Cyprinidae family. It is a species native to the East, present in Italy since Roman times.

 

What are the nutritional properties of carp?

100 g of cooked carp provide about 162 calories broken down as follows:

  • 60% protein
  • 40% lipids

 

In particular, in 100 grams of carp are present approximately:

  • 22.9 g of protein
  • 7.2 g of lipids, of which: 1.4 g of saturated fat, 3 g of monounsaturated fat, 1.8 g of polyunsaturated fats ( of which 900 mg of omega 3 and 663 mg of omega 6) and 84.11 mg cholesterol
  • 2.1 mg of niacin
  • 1.6 mg of vitamin C
  • 0,882 mg of pantothenic acid,
  • 0.235 mg pyridoxine
  • 0.12 mg of thiamine
  • 0 , 06 mg riboflavin
  • 32 IU vitamina
  • 1.47 micrograms of vitamin B12,
  • 531 mg of phosphorus,
  • 427 mg potassium
  • 63 mg sodium
  • 52 mg calcium
  • 38 mg magnesium
  • 1.9 mg zinc
  • 1.6 mg iron
  • 0 , 06 mg of copper
  • 0.06 mg manganese
  • 16.2 micrograms of selenium

 

When should you not eat carp?

There are some conditions in which the consumption of carp may interfere with medications or other substances. If in doubt it is good to seek advice from your doctor.

 

Availability of carp

In certain regions carp fishing is prohibited at certain times of the year. In particular, Lombardy bans fishing carp from May 15 to June 30, and in Piedmont from June 1st till the 30th.

 

Possible benefits of carp

Carp is an excellent source of quality protein, omega 3 fatty acids – cardiovascular health allies – and phosphorus – beneficial to the health of bones and teeth and also important for the kidneys, muscles and heart, for the proper functioning of the metabolism and for the nervous impulse transmission. It is also a good source of vitamin B12 – involved in the synthesis of nucleic acids and hemoglobin, in the metabolism of fats and in the functioning of the nervous system – and selenium, which is important for the body's antioxidant defenses.

 

Possible contraindications of carp

Unfortunately, carp is a food quite rich in cholesterol (whose intake should not exceed 300 mg per day in the case of adults in good health and 200 mg per day for people suffering from cardiovascular problems).