Sunfish vs. Perch — Health Impact and Nutrition Comparison
Summary
Perch provides more Vitamin C, B2, and B3 and less sodium than sunfish. On the other hand, sunfish is relatively richer in Folate, copper, and Vitamin A. Also, it contains less cholesterol than perch.
Table of contents
Introduction
We'll discuss the main nutritional differences between perch and sunfish and their impact on human health.
What's The Actual Difference?
The ocean sunfish, known as the common mola, is the world's heaviest bony fish. While sunfish belongs to the Molidae family, perch belong to the Percidae family.
Sunfish is bigger than perch, has a crisp and mild taste, and its skin may hint at bitterness, whereas the flavor of perch is sweet, and the texture is firm and crumbly.
NUTRITION
The food types discussed in this article are raw perch and raw sunfish with pumpkin seeds. You can look at nutrition infographics at the bottom of the page to better understand their differences.
Calories
Both perch and sunfish are considered moderate-calories foods and have almost equal numbers of calories.
Perch has 117 calories per 100g, and sunfish has 114 calories per 100g.
Minerals
Sunfish is relatively richer in minerals than perch. It is richer in zinc and iron, potassium, and copper.
On the other hand, perch contains less sodium and more phosphorus.
Both fiches contain equal amounts of calcium and magnesium.
Mineral Comparison
Contains
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PotassiumPotassium
+30.5%
Contains
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IronIron
+32.8%
Contains
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CopperCopper
+100.5%
Contains
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ZincZinc
+39.2%
Contains
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PhosphorusPhosphorus
+11.3%
Contains
less
SodiumSodium
-23.3%
Vitamins
Perch provides more Vitamin C, Vitamin B2, and Vitamin B3.
Nevertheless, sunfish has more Folate, Vitamin B1, and Vitamin A.
Both fishes have an equal amount of Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, and Vitamin B12.
Vitamin Comparison
Contains
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Vitamin AVitamin A
+81.3%
Contains
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Vitamin B1Vitamin B1
+15%
Contains
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FolateFolate
+183.3%
Contains
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Vitamin CVitamin C
+70%
Contains
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Vitamin B2Vitamin B2
+41.2%
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Vitamin B3Vitamin B3
+30%
Fats
Both perch and sunfish have tiny amounts of fat.
Protein
The amounts of protein in perch and sunfish are equal: 25 g. Both are rich in essential amino acids, such as tryptophan, lysine, histidine, and threonine.
Cholesterol
Perch provides more cholesterol than sunfish. It has 115 mg of cholesterol per 100g, while sunfish contains 86 mg per 100g.
HEALTH IMPACT
Health Benefits
Both perch and sunfish are high in omega-3 fatty acids, which have anti-triglyceridemic, hemostatic, and anti-atherogenic properties and can help improve the heart's structure and function [1].
Also, perch is rich in gamma-tocopherol (gT), which has anti-inflammatory properties and benefits the cardiovascular system. Its antioxidant also may help reduce LDL cholesterol oxidation and increases HDL cholesterol levels [2]. Sunfish also has decent levels of Folate and potassium, which can help to regulate the heartbeat, ensure proper muscle and nerve function, and are required for protein synthesis and carbohydrate metabolism [3].
Side Effects
Sunfish contains a high amount of mercury. Excessive mercury intake is toxic and can result in neurological, cardiovascular, and behavioral issues. It could be unsafe for children. As a result, it is best to consume sunfish in moderation [4].
Perch is high in purines, which can cause kidney stones. A high purine intake causes increased uric acid production, and this concentration promotes the formation of uric acid stones [5].
Besides, if consumed in high amounts, these fish can cause gas and bloat. These fishes also contain salicylates and a compound known as amygdalin, which may cause allergic reactions in some people [6].
References
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6742725/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3712371/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8614638/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6923298/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18589026/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9397527/
Infographic
Macronutrient Comparison
Contains more FatsFats | +31.1% |
Contains more OtherOther | +39.2% |
Fat Type Comparison
Contains less Sat. FatSaturated Fat | -24.9% |
Contains more Mono. FatMonounsaturated Fat | +30% |
Contains more Poly. FatPolyunsaturated fat | +49.8% |
Comparison summary table
Lower in Cholesterol | |||
Lower in Saturated Fat | |||
Rich in minerals | |||
Lower in Sodium | |||
Lower in Sugar | Equal | ||
Lower in Glycemic Index | Equal | ||
Lower in price | Equal | ||
Rich in vitamins | Equal |
All nutrients comparison - raw data values
Nutrient | Opinion | ||
Calories | 114kcal | 117kcal | |
Protein | 24.87g | 24.86g | |
Fats | 0.9g | 1.18g | |
Vitamin C | 1mg | 1.7mg | |
Cholesterol | 86mg | 115mg | |
Magnesium | 38mg | 38mg | |
Calcium | 103mg | 102mg | |
Potassium | 449mg | 344mg | |
Iron | 1.54mg | 1.16mg | |
Copper | 0.385mg | 0.192mg | |
Zinc | 1.99mg | 1.43mg | |
Phosphorus | 231mg | 257mg | |
Sodium | 103mg | 79mg | |
Vitamin A | 58IU | 32IU | |
Vitamin A | 17µg | 10µg | |
Manganese | 0.897mg | 0.9mg | |
Selenium | 16.2µg | 16.1µg | |
Vitamin B1 | 0.092mg | 0.08mg | |
Vitamin B2 | 0.085mg | 0.12mg | |
Vitamin B3 | 1.462mg | 1.9mg | |
Vitamin B5 | 0.865mg | 0.87mg | |
Vitamin B6 | 0.138mg | 0.14mg | |
Vitamin B12 | 2.31µg | 2.2µg | |
Folate | 17µg | 6µg | |
Saturated Fat | 0.178g | 0.237g | |
Monounsaturated Fat | 0.15g | 0.195g | |
Polyunsaturated fat | 0.315g | 0.472g | |
Tryptophan | 0.279mg | 0.278mg | |
Threonine | 1.09mg | 1.09mg | |
Isoleucine | 1.146mg | 1.145mg | |
Leucine | 2.022mg | 2.02mg | |
Lysine | 2.284mg | 2.283mg | |
Methionine | 0.736mg | 0.736mg | |
Phenylalanine | 0.971mg | 0.97mg | |
Valine | 1.281mg | 1.281mg | |
Histidine | 0.732mg | 0.732mg | |
Omega-3 - EPA | 0.047g | 0.101g | |
Omega-3 - DHA | 0.092g | 0.223g | |
Omega-3 - DPA | 0.042g | 0.036g |
Which food is preferable for your diet?
Low Calories diet | ||
Low Fats diet | ||
Low Carbs diet | Equal | |
Low Glycemic Index diet | Equal |
People also compare
Vitamins & Minerals Daily Need Coverage Score
Comparison summary
References
All the values for which the sources are not specified explicitly are taken from FDA’s Food Central. The exact link to the food presented on this page can be found below.
- Sunfish - https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/172003/nutrients
- Perch - https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/173679/nutrients
All the Daily Values are presented for males aged 31-50, for 2000-calorie diets.