Snakehead fish is a kind of wild fish (predator) that live
in fresh water and native fish of South East Asia. This fish is known by many
names in different regions in Indonesia like
kutuk, badau , gabus, etc. In the English language is also called
by various names such as the common snakehead, snakehead murrel, chevron
snakehead, striped snakehead. Scientific name of snakehead fish is Channa striata (Bloch, 1793).
Species of
Snakehead Fish
Snakehead fish, including Old World, from Asia (genus
Channa) and Africa (genus Parachanna). Altogether there are approximately 30
species of the genus.
In Indonesia there are several species of Channa; that
naturally it spread to the west of the Wallace Line. But now this fish has been
introduced into the eastern part as well.
One close relative of snakehead fish is toman
fish (Channa micropeltes), the length of the body may exceed 1 m and weighing
more than 5 kg.
Nutrients of Snakehead Fish for Health
Snakehead fish is very rich in fish albumin, a type of
protein that speeds healing after surgery and childbirth. It also helps the
child's growth and weight gain people with HIV / AIDS (PLWHA).
Discharged from hospital after surgery, such as after
childbirth, is a phase that is critical because patients have to fight for his
recovery. We often hear the prohibition of certain foods.
In general, there is actually no food restrictions for
postoperative patients, except when suffering from allergies or have a special
message from the doctor. After undergoing intestinal surgery for example, we
certainly should not eat foods that are difficult to digest. In contrast,
postoperative delivery, eat a lot of the solutions to accelerate the healing
process, especially foods rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals.
Nutrients is necessary to help the body's healing process
after surgery, the repair of cells and tissues. Quality of nutrients is also
necessary to strengthen immunity (immune system) so that the body is not
susceptible to disease.
One food that is highly recommended for postoperative
consumption of this fish . Snakehead are sold in traditional markets and
modern in Indonesia, generally in the form of dried salted.
Judging from its nutrient content, snakehead fish no less
than other freshwater fish are quite popular, such as carp and milkfish.
As with other fish, the benefits of snakehead fish is fairly
high protein content. Protein content per 100 grams of fish equivalent snakehead
fish, but higher when compared to catfish and carp that often we eat.
Snakehead fish protein content was also higher than the food
that has been known as sources of protein such as eggs, chicken, or beef.
Protein content per 100 grams 12.8 grams of egg; 18.2 grams of chicken meat,
and 18.8 grams of beef. Protein digestibility values are also very good fish,
which reaches more than 90 percent.
In addition, snakehead fish collagen protein was also lower
than the meat of cattle, which ranges from 3-5 percent of the total protein.
That is what the texture of fish meat is more than chicken or beef.
Lack of collagen causes the cork fish meat becomes much
easier to digest baby, elderly parents, and also people who are recovering from
illness. Babies need a high protein intake, but do not yet have a perfect
digestive tract.
Other advantages of snakehead fish protein is rich in
albumin, a type of protein most (60 percent) in human blood plasma. The main
role of albumin in the body is very important, that helps the formation of new
tissue.
Without albumin; cells in the body would be difficult to
regenerate, so that die quickly and do not develop. Albumin is also an
important role in wound healing process.
In medical science, albumin commonly used to accelerate
recovery of the divided body tissue, such as surgery or surgery. That's why
postoperative patients are strongly encouraged to eat fish cork, hoping to help
the healing process in the body.
Many experiments in Indonesia that consumption snakehead
fish can help accelerate patient’s health rose
sharply after eating snakehead fish several times.
Research conducted at the University of Hasanudin, Makassar,
South Sulawesi, also show fish extract of
snakehead fish for 10-14 days can increase blood albumin levels of 0.6 to 0.8 g
/ dl. The PLWHA (people living with HIV / AIDS) who were given fish extract the
cork on a regular basis, can increase levels of albumin in the blood, so the
weight will rise slowly.
In addition to helping the formation of new tissue, which is
albumin in the blood also serves to regulate water balance in cells, providing
nutrients in the cells, and helps remove waste products. Albumin also serves to
maintain the setting of fluid in the body.
Make the fish extract in a simple way, can be done
at home. For those who can not eat a heavy meal, it can poach fish until all
the juice out of the fish. Fish juice is then filtered and consumed as drinking
water. So that does not smell fishy, fish broth extract the cork can also be
mixed with lime.
Snakehead fish can be processed in various ways. People of
South Sulawesi and Papua processing this fish into spicy sour soup. While the
Javanese and Sundanese process by frying. Banjarmasin community used to make
fish crackers. In Batavia region the famous snakehead fish soup named “gabus pucung”.
Traditional
Fishing Snakehead Fish
Fishing snakehead fish is one of amazing experience. When
fishing this fish, people in Indonesia use small frog or small fish as decoy.
The decoy was not put into water but put on upper water surface. Snakehead fish
will jump out of the water to grab the decoy.