Humans have been hunting whales for centuries. Why is this happening? One of the main reasons is whale fat. It is used very much in many spheres of human activity. In the article we will talk in detail about this organic substance, which has important trace elements and vitamins.
Whaling
Whales are huge mammals that live in water. Their weight can reach up to 150 tons (for example, in extinct mammoths, it did not exceed 15), and the average length reaches 25 meters.
It is only natural that these large animals attracted people's attention. According to historical data, whale hunting has been around for more than four thousand years. At that time, there were a lot of these mammals. Many times more than hunters. Now the situation has changed dramatically. In many countries, strict bans on the extermination of different types of whales have already been introduced .
Regulate the production of animals began in 1931. Nevertheless, whaling is very popular in countries such as Russia, Canada, Greenland, the USA, Iceland, Norway and Japan.
At first, whale meat was very much appreciated, but then people learned to use almost all parts of mammals. Their brain and glands are sources of insulin and adrenocorticotropic hormone, and the liver is rich in vitamin A. Blood, skin and fat of whales are also used. In the past, rafters were made from bones for dwellings or they were ground into flour, which fertilized the soil. Well, a whalebone was used in perfumery to obtain amber. We go further.
Fat whale
It is he who finds the most widespread use among the products obtained from these mammals. The hunters, to extract whale oil, climbed into the whale through the mouth. This method is most optimal, since it was not necessary to cut the skin, which was also used later. All whales have a fairly large supply of fat. This is due to the fact that mammals live in cold waters, where you can easily freeze. It also saves animals during long migrations (with a prolonged absence of food, whales live off fat) and provides them with buoyancy.
Voroban - that is how the fat of whales and other marine animals was called in the Middle Ages. It was produced by smelting from the fat of mammals. The resulting substance had a yellowish tinge and an unpleasant odor.
The largest species of whales is blue, they have a fat layer of up to 30 centimeters in thickness. Usually it is 25-30% of their body weight (in the region of 30 tons). In individual individuals, this figure reaches up to 50%. In addition to the subcutaneous layer, fat can be found in other tissues, meat and even bones. To get a blubber, all these parts were digested.
Production and use
There are not many methods of processing fat. The oldest of these is digestion. Pieces of whale oil and meat were thrown in the furnace directly on the ship, and then the resulting liquid was poured into barrels. Also, blubber was received in the Middle Ages by means of tapping in the sun.
What is whale fat used for? Previously, jute was made from it, soap was made and used as lubricants. Over time, they began to fill fat in lanterns and lamps, and also used as fuel for equipment. Well, for example, in Japan, this organic substance was used as an insecticide that repels locusts.
So, where is whale fat used, we found out. It remains to talk about the method of its extraction. Since the beginning of the twentieth century, this is hydrogenation. When using this processing method, the fat becomes solid and completely odorless. Since then, it began to be used for the manufacture of margarines and oils. Now, whale fat is used mainly in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. Well, people living in the northern regions still eat it.
Composition
Whale fat is a source of valuable substances that a person needs to feel good. It has a rather high content of vitamin A, which has antioxidant properties and stimulates the immune system. And fat from whale liver is rich in vitamin D. The latter is responsible for cell growth and the production of several hormones.
However, there are a number of substances that can not be obtained from other products. Fatty acids are of primary value to humans. Well, the product described in the article contains many of them: peanut, palmitic, olin, laronic and others.
It is also worth noting the presence of polyunsaturated acids, which are the most important substances. In whale oil, their content ranges from 30 to 40%. The human body is not able to independently produce polyunsaturated acids involved in the regulation of several body functions (accumulation of cholesterol, etc.). Therefore, it is necessary to replenish their stock from the outside.
Beneficial features
So, we have described the composition of the product. But why do you need whale oil? The polyunsaturated acids in it are omega-3. They help lower blood pressure in the vessels and prevent blood clots. In addition, omega-3s contribute to good vision and memory.
Also, whale fat helps in preventing diseases such as arthritis, diabetes, asthma, osteochondrosis and radiculitis. Due to its composition, it strengthens all body tissues. Whale fat enhances immunity, prevents oncology and speeds up metabolism.
The product rejuvenates the body and gives the person more energy and strength, helping to get out of depression. In pharmaceuticals, whale fat is used as a remedy for burns. It also promotes tissue healing. And in cosmetology, whale oil moisturizes the skin to give it elasticity and firmness.
Slimming
No matter how strange it sounds, you can lose weight with whale fat. But this does not mean that you need to eat in packs and adhere to your previous lifestyle. It itself is very high-calorie, and if you absorb it in large quantities, then it certainly will not lead to harmony. The secret is different - a man needs fat with active weight loss. It supplies the necessary substances and in sports, in combination with a reasonable diet, helps to gain muscle mass.
When losing weight, the body experiences severe stress, and whale fat helps minimize it, providing the most smooth transition. The product helps to normalize all important processes in the body. The elimination of toxins and assistance in the assimilation of nutrients obtained with food are two other functions that whale fat performs in the body. In Kaliningrad and other cities of Russia, it can be freely bought at pharmacies.
Whale extermination
Despite all the benefits that humans receive from these animals, the mammals themselves have a hard time. A few millennia ago, people used only whales that were washed ashore. But over time, their targeted fishing began, which reached such proportions that many mammals can disappear forever.
Endangered species include finwala, blue, bowhead and northern smooth whales. To prevent a sad outcome, hunting bans regularly appear. But the value of mammals from this has not decreased. Japan, Iceland and Norway regularly violate the moratoriums introduced. By the way, there is even a MMORPG game dedicated to whale hunting. It is called Black Desert. Whale fat there is one of the resources used in alchemy.
Many cosmetology and pharmaceutical companies support established moratoriums. They learned how to make synthetic acids, no different from those found in whale fat. The effect from them is the same, and mammals do not suffer.