Reasons Why You Should Eat Crab?
Almost all of us know about the fact that it is good for our health to eat two portions of fish per week, and so do all the different researches suggest. Moreover, if you are living along the coastline in America then this is not a big deal for you. It is quite easy to get the best fish in town.
Fish is one thing, most often people ask if crab meat is good for us? Well, let us give you the juicy bit. Crab is actually more beneficial to your health than eating fish. Yes! You heard it right! Don’t believe us? Keep reading if you want to learn all about it.
The great thing is that if you are living in the U.S then you are really lucky. This is because you can find a lot of species of crab in America that are edible. From king crab to blue crab and the most amazing Dungeness crab you can find it all here. You can easily go to the big seafood restaurants in the U.S. and have a look at their crab dinner menu and pick out your favorite crab dish. So why not enjoy fresh crab when you can?
Eating a good portion of this nutritious seafood has amazing health benefits. Most people are unaware of this, thus we are here to tell you all about it. So, is crab meat as incredible as it sounds? Absolutely yes! Keep reading to learn about all of the health benefits that crab can give you if you eat it regularly.
Table of Contents
1. Crab is a Great Protein Source
Crab is rich in protein thus making for one of the biggest dietary sources of protein. Crabmeat has the same amount of protein that 100 grams of any other meat do. But what’s the benefit here? The great part about crab is that its meat has nowhere near the same amount of saturated fats in it that the other meats do. It is greatly deficient in saturated fats thus being very healthy for you.
Moreover, this suggests that you would not run the risk of developing heart disease if you consume more crab meat and fewer other meats. Why is that? It is because it lacks saturated fats that cause heart problems, like other protein sources.
Another incredible fact about crab meat is that its protein is of very high quality. This is because it lacks the usual connective tissues that are found in other sources of meat. This makes it easily digestible and consumable by all ages.
2. Contains a Huge Quantity of Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Crabmeat is also rich in minerals, vitamins, and omega-3 fatty acids. The omega-3 polyunsaturated acids in its meat help in protecting your heart against heart diseases and promote better brain development. Moreover, some researches also suggest that these fatty acids aid in inhibiting aggressive behavior, thus promoting better mental health.
The best part is that crab has long-chain omega-3, this one is more helpful to us. This is because these chains can be immediately utilized by the body, without any delay. This is unlike the usual short-chain fatty acids that are available in oils and veggies. The problem with these short chains is that they need to be converted into long chains before our bodies can absorb them.
3. Rich in Selenium
The next incredible thing about this crustacean is that it is very rich in selenium. Selenium is super beneficial for your health as it plays an integral role in the antioxidant defense system of humans. This helps in preventing any sort of damage to reach your cells and tissues.
Consuming selenium also has a very significant effect on the functioning of the immune system. It helps you develop a stronger immunity to fight against diseases. Not only this, selenium helps in regulating the thyroid hormone and its synthesis in reproduction. If you are consuming 100 grams of crab meat daily, you can get the daily recommended consumption value that is 112% for men and the 140% for women.
The fun fact is that crabmeat contains thrice the amount of selenium than that found in codfish and 12 times more than that found in beef. Therefore, you must create a yummy crab dinner menu and get all of its benefits now!
4. Is a Great Source of Riboflavin - Vitamin B2
Most vitamins are water-soluble and therefore our body cannot store them. The amount that is needed but the body is utilized and the rest leaves the body. Thus it is necessary that you obtain all of the essential vitamins through your diet. Crabmeat is a great source of fulfilling all of your vitamin needs, especially vitamin B2.
Vitamin B2 or Riboflavin is an essential vitamin that helps in the production of red blood cells and steroids. Moreover, it helps in growth, in preserving the youth of the skin, in keeping the eyes sharp and healthy, and last but not least in the maintenance of your nervous system.
Furthermore, vitamin B2 plays a key role in the absorption of iron through the digestive tract. If you consume the appropriate amounts of riboflavin daily, it would help extract iron from your daily diet and maintain its levels in the body. Riboflavin is also known for supporting the activity of antioxidants in the body.
5. Crab Contains Phosphorus and Copper
Lastly, crabmeat is also rich in copper and phosphorus. The copper that you can get from consuming crab is 30 times what you can get from cod and 56 times more than that found in beef, chicken, and salmon. Isn’t that amazing?! Copper is one of those minerals that is rarely available in the diet you consume every day. Therefore, it is necessary that you add crabmeat to your diet so you can fulfill your daily need for copper.
While most individuals claim that iron is all that is needed to form red blood cells and thus is under the spotlight for that, in reality, it is copper that is behind the drapes. Copper is the main element that is involved in the absorption and storage of iron in the body. It is also essential in the formation of RBCs. Copper helps to keep your bones, nerves, blood vessels, and immune system healthy. Thus, it is very important that you add crabmeat to your diet.
Next comes phosphorus, if you consume 100 grams of crabmeat daily you will get 62% of the daily recommended dose of phosphorus. The thing to remember is that phosphorus is a mineral that helps in the development of bones and teeth. Moreover, it also helps in running the other metabolic functions of the body such as the function of the kidneys, heart muscles, and the growth of cells. It also plays an integral part in converting food into energy.
