What are the benefits and harms of mussels, positive and negative properties

Such a delicacy as mussels, people have been eating for a long time. This common seafood, in addition to a pleasant taste, has a number of useful properties. Currently, mussels are available to many of us, you can buy them in every supermarket. As it turned out, these mollusks can bring not only benefits, but also harm to our health, so it is important to know what the beneficial properties of mussels are, as well as their harm.

What is a mussel?

Mussels live in all parts of the world in coastal sea water. These shells always settle close to each other; special fibers help them to gain a foothold. They belong to the family of marine bivalves, and there are about 30 varieties of mussels today.

The mussel shell has an oval-wedge shape, its maximum size can reach 20 cm in length. The shell of the mollusk comes in different colors – golden brown, purple or yellowish green, depending on the habitat of the mussels. The shell is smooth to the touch, inside it is mother-of-pearl.

They are often called “orderlies of the seas”, they feed on planktonic animals, settle in not very warm and not cold waters among rocks, on breakwaters and at the bottom with algae. Mollusks are very prolific, within a day, after the female has laid eggs, larvae appear. Depending on the habitat, they have different life expectancy, for example, Pacific shells live up to 30 years, but the Black Sea shells only 6 years.

Useful Properties

Due to their rich composition, shellfish are very healthy, and the size and variety do not matter. They are in large numbers there are many vitamins – A, B, E, PP, C, as well as iron, selenium, omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids, phosphatides, high quality protein and many other elements. 100g of seafood contains only 17g of fat and 50kcal, which makes it an excellent diet food dish, it has practically no carbohydrates. According to doctors, the regular use of these shells always has a beneficial effect on health.

1. Shellfish strengthen the immune system and help keep the whole body in good shape.
2. They are a preventive measure for many diseases, and also reduce the risk of developing cancer.
3. Contribute to the improvement of the digestive system and circulatory system.
4. Improve the condition of the skin, hair, nails, help to have sharper vision.

What are the benefits of mussels for men and women?

The unique properties of mussels are especially good for women’s health. Shellfish have a beneficial effect on the condition of hair and nails due to calcium and phosphorus, which are found in large quantities in mussels. Since they are low in calories, but contain easily digestible protein, regular consumption will not allow you to gain excess weight.

The content of amino acids enhances sexual desire, when eating mussels in a woman’s body, the production of female hormones is stimulated. The rich composition of seafood has a good effect on all female organs, their frequent use in food will give a woman a chance to get pregnant easily and quickly.

It is also useful for the male body to include this delicacy in the diet, since zinc, which is contained in large quantities there, improves potency. If this seafood is regularly present on a man’s menu, then it will help him to be full of strength, energy and more resilient. High quality and light protein will be very useful for athletic people to build muscle mass.

Harmful properties

In addition to the positive properties, there are also negative points that you need to be aware of before regularly including the delicacy on your menu. Mussels very sensitive to bacterial contaminationlike many other types of seafood. Since molluscs often live near algae, they can accumulate the poison of some algae, it is deposited in their tissues. Harmful toxins are not afraid of high temperatures, therefore they are dangerous to health. Before buying a popular seafood, you need to make sure of their quality and freshness, always purchase from trusted manufacturers.

1. Shellfish thin the blood, which can be dangerous for those with poor blood clotting. Often, mussels cause allergic reactions, and if a person has a bad reaction to seafood, then it is undesirable to use shellfish.
2. It is not for nothing that mussels are called the “orderlies” of the seas, since they pass all the water through themselves and accumulate a lot of harmful substances in the process of filtration. Toxic substances will be found in the meat of the mollusk and such a seafood, instead of benefit, will only bring harm to health.
3. It is best to buy mussels that are grown on special farms, where they are immersed in clean water and all the accumulated debris is washed out, after which the clams go on sale.

How to choose a dietary product?

in mussels high concentration of protein, but it is easily and quickly digested, and its quantity is much greater than in chicken or other types of meat. Nutritionists always recommend including these shellfish in the menu, since their use does not give extra pounds. Experts recommend eating them together with cereals and vegetables, such dishes can be beneficial, allow the body to be in good shape.

It is very important to choose the right shellfish and save, as well as prepare the product. If you follow the rules, then mussels will save all the necessary nutrients. The canned delicacy is the safest, but in this case, you need to know which manufacturer you can trust when buying a product.

Also good to buy fresh frozen product, in which all the beneficial properties of mussels are always preserved, then it remains only to properly prepare the dish. When cooking frozen clams, it is very important to rinse them well.

Fresh mussels should not have an unpleasant odor, the shells should be whole and not damaged, without suspicious stains. Fresh mussels always smell like the sea and after they are caught, they are recommended to be cooked no later than 2 hours later. After the mussel dish is prepared, it is better to eat it right away and not leave it for later, then it will definitely be useful.

To summarize

For thousands of years, mussels have been used by people and for many peoples living by the sea, they become a traditional dish. The relatively low price and excellent taste of mussels, as well as the beneficial properties of these mollusks, have made them a very popular dish with many people.

To date, there are many recipes with which you can cook an amazing lunch or dinner with these shells. It is very important for seafood lovers to know that such a delicacy can be of great benefit or harm to the body if it is not properly cooked mussels or buying low-quality clams.