Sushi is a Japanese dish that typically consists of rice, fish, and vegetables, wrapped in seaweed. The individual ingredients have many nutritional benefits, meaning sushi can be a healthy and weight-loss-friendly option.

Sushi often contains nutritious ingredients, including fish, vegetables, seaweed, and rice. These ingredients contain a good balance of macronutrients — protein, carbohydrates, and fat. Sushi also tends to be relatively low in calories, making it a suitable option for people looking to lose weight.

This article provides an overview of sushi, its ingredients, health benefits, potential drawbacks, and whether or not sushi is a weight-loss-friendly option.

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Sushi is a classic dish and a significant part of Japanese culture and diet. It originated in the 7th centuryTrusted Source as a way to preserve fish through rice fermentation, and in the 17th century, people began to add vinegar to the rice to improve the taste. In the 19th century, people began using raw fish, and the fermentation process was later discontinued.

Traditionally, sushi consists of a roll of vinegar-flavored rice and a mix of seasonings, vegetables, cooked or raw fish, and seaweed (nori). Soy sauce and wasabi — a spicy paste made from Japanese horseradish — usually come as a side.

Sushi is relatively low in calories, which makes it a suitable option for those looking to lose weight. A 2021 reviewTrusted Source found that a low calorie diet with a low fat or carbohydrate content is optimal for weight loss.

Additionally, a 2015 studyTrusted Source found that combining protein with resistant starch, as with sushi, increased the fat that participants burned and contributed to their feelings of satiety (fullness).

Weight loss occurs when the body is in a calorie deficit. To lose weight, the amount of calories a person consumes through food and drink must be less than the amount they burn throughout the day.

To maintain a steady weight loss, being in a calorie deficit and incorporating exercise into a daily routine are essential factors.

Depending on the specific ingredients and method of preparation, sushi can be a great low calorie dish with nutritional benefits. The individual ingredients each have their own potential health benefits.

Fish

The fish that sushi contains is usually a lean source of protein. Protein takes longer to digestTrusted Source, which means it can help make a person feel full for longer.

Fish contains high levels of omega-3 fatty acids. Research associates omega-3s with essential brain and body function. Additionally, these fats help fight medical conditions such as heart disease and stroke.

Further, fish is one of the very few foods that naturally contain vitamin DTrusted Source.

Rice

White rice is rich in certain B vitamins such as niacin and thiamin. B vitamins are important for cell metabolism and red blood cell synthesis.

Cooked white rice is high in resistant starch, and research associates this with lowered blood sugar spikesTrusted Source after a meal and improving the gut microbiomeTrusted Source.

Rice contains several vitamins and mineralsTrusted Source important to body functions, such as phosphorus, potassium, and folate.

Seaweed (nori)

Nori is a type of seaweed that wraps around the outside of sushi in traditional “Maki” or roll form.

Seaweed contains a variety of nutrientsTrusted Source, including calcium, magnesium, thiamine, vitamins A, C, and E, phosphorus, iron, sodium, and iodine.

Additionally, seaweed is a high protein food, with nearly half of its dry weight being protein. This is a comparable level to high protein plant foods, such as chickpeas.

As with most foods, sushi may have potential drawbacks depending on the ingredients, the preparation, and how much a person consumes.

Fish

Fish can contain traces of mercuryTrusted Source from oceanic pollution, which can be dangerous if someone consumes it accidentally. Other types of toxins found in fish can lead to ciguatera or scombroid poisoningTrusted Source.

Sushi containing raw fish may carry a risk of infectionTrusted Source from various bacteria and parasites. Some of the species typically found in sushi include SalmonellaTrusted Source, VibrioTrusted Source bacteria, and parasites such as Anisakis and DiphyllobothriumTrusted Source.

Rice

Since rice is a source of refined carbohydrates, if consumed in large amounts, it can increase blood sugar levels, promote inflammation and increase the risk of diabetes and heart disease.

Furthermore, sushi rice is typically made with sugar. The additional sugar and low fiber content of sushi means that the body’s digestive system breaks it down quickly.

Sauces

Sushi typically contains a high salt content. This comes from the soy sauce, pickled vegetables, and fish, which may be cooked or prepared with salt. The high salt content can contribute to high blood pressureTrusted Source and increase the risk of stomach cancer.

Sushi comes in many forms, including:

  • Maki: rolls with rice, seaweed, and different fillings — usually a vegetable or seafood
  • Nigri: rice topped with raw fish
  • Temaki: hand rolls filled with rice and fish and/or vegetables and wrapped in nori
  • Sashimi: thinly sliced raw fish served with soy sauce

The healthiest types of sushi are those with simple, nutritious ingredients with minimal additives. These include:

  • salmon or tuna rolls
  • avocado rolls
  • rainbow rolls
  • vegetarian rolls
  • California rolls
  • sashimi

Things that can make sushi less healthy include deep-fried ingredients and extra sauces that may be calorie-dense, high in fat, or high in sugar, such as wasabi mayonnaise or sriracha hot sauce.

The following are questions people frequently ask about sushi.

Is sushi suitable for people with diabetes?

Sushi can be challenging for people with diabetes due to the added sugar and refined carbsTrusted Source. Both these are best to avoid if a person has diabetes.

Are California sushi rolls healthy?

California rolls are generally healthy as long as a person avoids high amounts of calorie-dense sauces, such as mayonnaise, or consumes them in moderation.

Sushi is a nutritious dish with many health benefits due to its ingredients. It incorporates carbohydrates, lean protein, and fat. Sushi’s low calorie count makes it suitable as a weight-loss-friendly dish.

There are many types of sushi, some with more additives that may be unhealthy, such as deep-fried ingredients. Additionally, there can be dangers with eating raw fish if producers have not prepared it correctly.