Is Pickled Herring Good for You?

Pickled herring: A good source of Omega 3 fatty acids and vitamin D

In response to the debate question of whether pickled herring is good for you, the response is in the affirmative. Yes, pickled herring is good for you. It is considered to be a delicacy in many parts of the world, including Scandinavia, Iceland, Holland and Japan, to name just a few countries.

My initial encounter with pickled herring came about when I visited Holland, in the spring of 1968.. At the crowded market place in Groningen, in northern Holland, there was a street-side, pickled herring stall, where the herring could be purchased and eaten, on the spot.

Dozens of tourists and Dutch people, some wearing wooden shoes, stood in line to buy the delicacy from the elderly, Dutch gentleman beside the counter of the outdoor stand. With their guilders (the Dutch currency at that time), tightly clutched in their hands, they waited patiently to be served. Then, one by one, they would hold their pickled herrings up, throw their heads back and consume them. 

I wondered if some people even took the time to chew the herrings. For me, this was something totally new and different. It certainly sparked my interest in herring! 

The herring is a small, oily fish belonging to the genus Clupea. The North Atlantic Ocean, Baltic Sea, North Pacific Ocean and the Mediterranean are places where herring thrive as huge schools of fish, swimming in the shallow, temperate waters. They are caught in the spring, as they head towards the shore. (1)

There are approximately two hundred different kinds of herring that have a single dorsal fin lacking a spine. In the Baltic Sea, their size is approximately fourteen to eighteen centimeters in length. These are the ones that I saw when I was visiting Holland. They are much larger in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. (2)

Herring has been a staple food in many countries of the world for over 3000 years.

Pickled herring is one way that herring is prepared for human consumption. Herring can also be eaten raw, fermented, or cured. (3)

"Why is pickled herring good for you?"

Pickled herring contains Omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA, as well as vitamin D.

While there is growing concern about PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) and dioxin in herring, it appears that as long as the fish are small or under seventeen centimeters, there does not seem to be a major health risk. If they are larger herring, then limited consumption of herring is recommended. (4)

Omega-3 fatty acids play an important role in growth and development, heart health and circulation. Vitamin D is important for calcium and phosphorus absorption, bone formation and a healthy immune system. (5)

Another reason that herring are good for people has to do with the reality that these fish feed on phytoplankton, when they are young. It is filtered through their gills as they swim. Phytoplankton releases oxygen and diminishes carbon dioxide. At this time, there are an increasing number of studies done on phytoplankton, with respect to human health. (6)

How is pickled herring prepared? The preparation of pickled herring involves a curing process, which uses salt to extract water. Then, the salt is removed. In the pickling stage, the flavorings consist of vinegar, salt and a sugar solution with spices like peppercorns, bay leaves and onions. Other flavorings like mustard, onion and garlic may also be used. (7)

In Scandanavia, pickled herring is served at Christmas time and Midsummer with dark rye bread, crisp bread or potatoes. In Iceland, a pickled herring or blald may be given to a child for a holiday treat. The Dutch have a soused herring or rollmops. The rollmops are pickled herring fillets rolled around a gherkin or onion and held together with a skewer. The Jewish use pickled herring in a forshmak salad. In Japan, it is in the cuisine of Hokkaido. (8)

While I was In Holland, I was fascinated by the fact pickled herring were being sold at the street-side stall, in the market place. Gradually, I have come to understand their tradition more fully and realize that to the Dutch, the pickled herring is an important part of their diet and their economy.

Pickled herring is good for you because of the Omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D. It was also fun to watch the Dutch people and others enjoy this delicacy in their Groningen marketplace!

(1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herring

(2) Ibid.

(3) Ibid.

(4) Ibid.

(5) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omega-3_fatty_acid

(6) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phytoplankton

(7) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herring

(8) Ibid.