What happens if I eat a lot of smoked salmon? A Spanish nutritionist explains

Good morning. Would you be so kind as to inform me? If I make a smoothie with egg white, milk, and oat flakes and bake it in the oven or a pan to make a cake; would the oats lose their properties? Thank you very much (Anonymous)

You wouldn't have to worry about the loss of properties in oat flakes, as is the case with other cereals, the decrease in nutrients due to heating is not very significant. It would be much more noteworthy if we were talking about a fresh product like fruits or vegetables. For example, a baked apple is indeed much more affected in terms of vitamin loss.

Even warming up oatmeal can make it easier to digest and much more assimilable. This doesn't mean that raw oatmeal is indigestible, but during the heating process, its carbohydrates are partially digested, making them much easier to absorb in our body.

I take this opportunity to point out that the oven temperatures are high and may cause small chemical changes in the egg and milk, leading to the loss or combination of amino acids with other compounds. However, these minor modifications are not significant and do not greatly alter the nutritional value of these ingredients.

Hello, Aitor. I really like smoked salmon and, now that the holidays are coming, I'm thinking of making some appetizers with this ingredient. But a few months ago, I read that it was bad for some people. Who should not consume it? Is there any issue if I eat too much? Thank you. (Alicia Gómez, reader)

Smoked salmon combines two small observations that we must take into account: on the one hand, it is a product that we know is contaminated with environmental dioxins, and on the other hand, by being prepared through smoking, we are incorporating harmful substances into our bodies.

This does not mean that you cannot consume it occasionally or that it has to be completely removed, but rather that it is a food where it is better to moderate consumption, especially in vulnerable populations such as children and pregnant or nursing women.

We do not have a specific alert about smoked salmon as we do for other larger blue fish: sharks, bluefin tuna, swordfish, or emperor fish. However, due to the presence of these substances, it is advisable not to rely solely on smoked salmon as the main source of fish in our diet. It is recommended to find alternative sources of protein and Omega 3 from plant origin, such as nuts and seeds.

Ultimately, for a festive appetizer, it doesn't pose a great risk, but it wouldn't be the most advisable option in terms of health.