What is halibut?

Halibut is a fish belonging to the Pleuronectidae family living in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) and the Pacific Ocean (Hippoglossus stenolepis). At the moment most of the halibut on the market comes from Greenland, Alaska, Canada and Norway.

 

What are the nutritional properties halibut?

100g of halibut contain about 114 calories broken down as follows:

  • 72% protein
  • 28% lipids

 

In particular, 100g of raw halibut from the Atlantic or Pacific Ocean provide about:

  • 80.34 g of water,
  • 18.56 g of protein
  • 1.33 g of lipids, among which: 0.292 g of acid saturated fat, 0.471 g of monounsaturated fatty acids, 0.290 g of polyunsaturated fatty acids (including omega-3) and 49 mg of cholesterol
  • 6,513 mg of niacin
  • 0.61 mg vitamin E
  • 0.548 mg pyridoxine
  • 0.05 mg thiamine
  • 0.03 mg of riboflavin
  • 190 IU of vitamin D
  • 67 IU vitamina
  • 12 micrograms of folate
  • 435 mg potassium
  • 236 mg of phosphorus
  • 68 mg sodium
  • 23 mg magnesium
  • 7 mg calcium
  • 0.36 mg zinc
  • 0.16 mg iron

 

When should you not eat halibut?

There are some known interactions between the consumption of halibut and the intake of drugs or other substances. If in doubt it is good to seek advice from your doctor.

 

Availability of halibut

The availability of halibut depend on the permissions granted for fishing. Currently it is a very exploited species that faces extinction in some areas.

 

Possible benefits and contraindications of halibut

The halibut is a source of omega 3 (in particular in the form of EPAe DHA), fatty acids which are allies of cardiovascular health, although their contribution is lower than that reached by consuming other types of fish, such as sardines, herring and mackerel. It is also a good source of protein, while compared to other food of animal origin its saturated fat intake (which in the absence of cardiovascular problems should not exceed 10% of the daily calories) is limited. This fish is also an excellent source of phosphorus, magnesium, selenium and various vitamins.

In general, it is a good choice for cardiovascular health.