It is pretty safe to say that our guests love our catfish. It is not hard to understand why. Catfish is light, tastes phenomenal, goes well with many of the other items on our menu and you can even order it as an All You Can Eat platter. Because you love it so much, and it is National Catfish Month, let’s take an in-depth look at some lesser-known things about catfish.
Catfish are known scientifically as Siluriformes. They are a diverse group of ray-finned fish. Catfish can be found in freshwater systems like rivers and streams but some forms have even adapted to living in saltwater. Considered a delicacy around the world, there are more than 3000 species of catfish that can be found on every continent except Antarctica. Catfish do not have scales and can be just about any color.
Catfish boasts several health benefits. With the abundance of grocery stores and restaurants that offer catfish, it’s only natural to question whether it truly is healthy. Catfish is a nutrient-dense offering. It is low in calories, low in sodium, but packed with all the things you want. Catfish is full of lean protein, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals. Health experts are consistently encouraging us to consume proper amounts of vitamin B12, selenium, omega-3, and omega-6 fatty acids. Catfish provide all of these nutrients to you!
We mentioned that catfish are rich in lean protein. Protein is an important primary source of energy in your diet. It is also responsible for building and repairing tissue and muscle as well as serving as the building blocks for many hormones, enzymes, and other molecules. One 3.5-ounce serving of catfish can provide up to 40 percent of your daily protein needs in only 105 calories. For comparison, to gain the same amount of protein from salmon, but you would need more than 200 calories.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends eating as many as 8 portions of fish per week. That means you can visit Bubba’s EVERY day! Of course, the real reason is that fish tends to provide more omega-3 fatty acids than other foods. Omega-3s are renowned for their role in brain health and are believed to help prevent memory loss, treat depression, and are currently being tested for its potential to reduce attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Vitamin B12 is important to help improve mental health, protect against heart disease, as well as help prevent and treat anemia (further studies are being conducted to prove these benefits as well).
Catfish is great for your heart, boasts joint benefits, good for your eyes, contains essential nutrients, can aid in weight loss, fight depression, and many other health benefits. Combine that with the sweet, mild flavor, fresh taste, the ability to blacken, broil, grill, or fry, it is no wonder catfish, long known as a southern staple, has become increasingly popular since the 1980s. At Bubba’s Fish Shack in Surfside Beach we love catfish because of the flavor, the health benefits, and all the other good things that go along with it. Come see us and sample some southern style catfish so good, you will forget how good it is for you.