What is crab meat good for men and women?

Crab meat is a delicacy that is characterized by excellent taste qualities and a very delicate structure. Crabs live in fresh water and sea water, but the sea dwellers are more valued because they have a more pronounced taste. In addition, they contain much more useful substances.

The meat in crabs is extracted from the claws and belly. This product is easily digested by the body. The meat is protected by the shell, so it does not form difficult to digest elements. This delicacy enriches the body with proteins, essential amino acids and various useful components. Such meat is able not only to satiate, but also to strengthen health.

What is the difference between crab meat and crab sticks

There is nothing in common between crab meat and crab sticks. They are two completely different products. Crab meat is derived from the limbs and belly of sea crabs, so it is a natural product. Crab sticks do not contain any crab; instead, they contain ground fish meat. Often crab sticks contain only flavoring substances and soy protein, which does not indicate that it is natural at all. Crab meat is very useful, it contains a lot of iodine accumulated during the life of the crab in the sea, and is notable for its high value.

Composition and calories

Crab meat has a rich vitamin composition. Almost all the vitamins belonging to the B group are found in it. Such substances are useful for the digestive tract, and also have a beneficial effect on the nervous system. The benefits for the digestive organs lie in the presence of protein in the meat, which is digested by the intestines faster than chicken or beef meat.

Also, the crab product contains vitamin A, which is essential for vision. The main role of the sea product is still the presence of omega fatty acids. These elements activate the work of the brain, strengthen the protective shell of the body. These acids contribute to improving blood composition, clearing it of cholesterol, protect against the development of diseases of the cardiovascular system.

In addition, meat is characterized by the content of various minerals. For example, such substances as iodine, copper and phosphorus, have a complex effect on the body, improve the activity of the thyroid gland. It is enough to eat up to 50 g of such meat to replenish the daily norm of iodine, which allows the thyroid to synthesize the necessary hormones. Niacin and nicotinic acid can lift your mood, relieve insomnia and increase efficiency.

The product also contains zinc and selenium.

The caloric value of the crab meat is only 70 kcal per 100 grams. This means that it can be used as a dietary dish.

What is crab meat good for?

General benefits

Consumption of crab meat helps to normalize the digestive process, and is a prevention of bloating and constipation. The components of the meat strengthen the cardiovascular system, help reduce bad cholesterol and have a positive effect on the nervous system. The product speeds up the recovery process after diseases and surgery.

Regular consumption of crab meat suppresses free radicals in the human body. Such a product contains taurine, which is an amino acid that is an antioxidant substance. It inhibits free radicals, which protects the body from premature aging and the development of cancer. This amino acid also improves vision.

Zinc in the delicacy provides normal brain function and bone health. Potassium is beneficial to the musculoskeletal system. Iodine in the seafood is responsible for the health of the thyroid gland. There are also substances that maintain water-salt balance and normalize metabolism.

For women

Due to the low calorie and high protein content, the product helps in the fight against excess weight. The body is satiated with a small amount of crab meat, while providing the necessary level of protein.

Like any seafood, crab meat contains a lot of iodine. This substance contributes to the proper functioning of the thyroid. The meat of this sea creature contains the daily requirement for iodine, which is required for the healthy functioning of the endocrine system. The product is especially useful for those women who are already faced with thyroid disorders.

Vitamins, minerals, amino acids and other substances in the composition of the crab product have a positive effect on the condition of the skin, hair and nail plates.

For men

The useful property of crab meat for men's health is that the product acts as a natural aphrodisiac. It regulates the synthesis of male sex hormones, improves sperm production and potency. In addition, the product is the prevention of male pathologies and prevents a decrease in libido.

In the crab meat contains almost all the vitamin group B. It is responsible for the normal functioning of the nervous system. This delicacy is able to improve brain function, to get rid of insomnia.

Omega-3 and omega-6 acids help to reduce cholesterol and clear the blood vessels. They also make blood vessels stronger and improve their permeability.

Seafood is good for athletes. It promotes fast muscle recovery after physical exertion. The consumption of such meat leads to an increase in performance. Crab delicacy is low-calorie, so there is no threat of excess weight at its consumption. All the calories in this case will be converted into energy, will not be deposited as a fat layer.

Pregnancy

During the fetus, a woman can use crab meat, but it must be of high quality and cooked with all the rules. Before including such a product in the diet, you should consult with a specialist.

Crabs are considered a source of fatty acids, protein, vitamin A and D. All these components take part in the development of the future child. Amino acids and antioxidant substances help restore energy and strengthen the immune system.

Also, crab meat contains a lot of iron, which prevents the development of anemia. The large amount of calcium in the seafood contributes to the normal formation of bones and teeth in the fetus. Due to the low calorie content, a woman will not have problems with excess weight during pregnancy. Folic acid in the composition of the crab delicacy prevents various pathologies of the nervous system in the future baby.

To include crab meat in the diet of a pregnant woman, you should choose the king crab. It is the safest one, but other kinds are not safe as they may contain a lot of mercury. Raw or not fully cooked crabs can be dangerous because they contain parasites and microorganisms, which leads to poisoning. All this not only affects the woman's condition, but also affects the baby's development. Eating meat in frozen form should also be avoided, as the product can be contaminated with deadly microorganisms.

When breastfeeding

When introducing crab meat into the diet of a breastfeeding woman, it is important to follow certain rules. First of all, it is necessary to remember that a woman can try crabs and many other seafood only from six months after the birth of the child. And this should be done only if the baby is absolutely healthy. The first portion should be very small.

If you have to try a salad with crab meat, you need to take care that the dish did not contain other components, which will be new to the child. For example, corn, which is most often used to make salads, can cause gas in children. After the first use, you should refrain from introducing new products for a couple of days to monitor the child's condition. In case the baby is allergic, crab meat should be excluded from the diet.

For children

In children, crab meat is consumed only in small quantities. The product strengthens the protective shell of the body, contributes to the development and active growth of the child. For schoolchildren sea creature meat is useful because it improves brain activity, as a result of which the child remembers new information faster.

You can introduce crab meat in the diet of a child from the age of six years, when his body is accustomed to the various products and easily absorb them.

Highly sensitive children such a product is contraindicated, because an allergic reaction can occur.

For weight loss.

Crab meat not only has few calories, but also contains a lot of protein, which is quickly digested, satiating the body for a long time. It is low in carbohydrates and fats, which lead to the accumulation of excess weight. It follows that crab meat during weight loss is very effective. It is easy enough to lose weight on such a product, as it can be used to prepare a variety of dishes. The delicacy is combined with vegetables, rice, it can be used as an ingredient for salads. Reduce the weight can be achieved by baking the seafood, cooking it on steam. Compared with chicken or beef, the crab product has almost no coarse dietary fiber, as a result, it is quickly digested and absorbed by the body.

If you are allergic to other seafood, you should exclude crab meat as well. It can also be contaminated with toxic substances due to water pollution from chemical emissions. Crab is capable of accumulating such harmful compounds. Severe poisoning is possible if the toxic product is consumed regularly.

Crab meat in medicine

Unsaturated fatty acids in crab meat normalize cholesterol, reduce the risk of heart disease, improve skin elasticity and prevent the development of skin diseases. Also, these substances reduce the risk of cancer.

Specialists recommend to eat such meat several times a week in combination with rice and other cereals.

Crab meat helps to reduce blood pressure, prevents the development of atherosclerosis and diseases of the digestive tract. It contains easily digestible protein that is quickly digested, has a delicate and soft structure that does not lead to irritation of the intestines and GI disorders.

Seafood stimulates the production of testosterone, which restores spermatogenesis, increases libido and potency in men.

The content of nicotinic acid, magnesium and other substances in the crab meat helps to reduce nervous tension and stress. The product improves your general well-being and boosts your mood. Regular consumption of crab delicacy helps to improve memory.

For diabetes.

Seafood is characterized by the presence of a large number of useful substances, quickly and easily absorbed by the body and without any restrictions can be included in the diet of people with diabetes. Such a product contains only a small number of sugars. However, it is important to observe the norm, it is still not necessary to pile on such natural products.

Important: The glycemic index of crab meat is 0 units.

In pancreatitis

Crab meat is considered an exquisite and very useful delicacy, which contains various trace elements and vitamins. Crabs are a source of dietary food, as this product contains protein, a small amount of fat and no carbohydrates. Such meat can be consumed not only in case of pancreatitis, but also in case of cholecystitis and other similar diseases. It is important to boil the crabmeat before using it in food and not to use spices and spicy seasonings.

Crab meat can be consumed only in the period of stable remission of pancreatitis, and you can use even canned product for the preparation of salads, soups.

In gout

With gouty arthritis, you can use crab meat in boiled or steamed form. Fried, smoked and canned foods are contraindicated in this disease. The product is enriched with vitamins and mineral compounds. Therefore, doctors recommend to include it in the diet at a quiet course of gout or in a period of stable remission.

It is important to eat the crab delicacy in moderation, because its excess in the diet can cause exacerbation of the pathology. Seafood contains purines, the decomposition of which increases the content of uric acid.

During an exacerbation, crab meat should not be used categorically. At this stage, it is important to follow a strict diet. Soup and broth from the crab product is also contraindicated because of its high purine content.

Harms and contraindications

With moderate consumption of crab meat, there will be no harm to the body. However, you should not use it in the diet of people prone to allergic reactions.

Crabs are natural creatures, so they can contain radioactive compounds and be contaminated with dangerous bacteria. Their meat can also be dangerous if crabs are caught in polluted water. Therefore, before buying such a delicacy, you should demand a certificate from the seller, which confirms its compliance with sanitary requirements.

People who are allergic to marine protein should not eat any seafood, including crab meat.

How to choose and store

You can buy crab meat in frozen, fresh or already cooked form.

1. The best option is to buy live crabs. Among live sea creatures, you should pay attention to the younger and more active individuals, but they should not be small.
2. Young crabs can be identified by a thicker shell. Buy better males to distinguish them from the females can be shorter and bent under the belly tail.
3. The body of the crab should not have lesions, because they accumulate harmful bacteria that can harm humans. Also, the meat of such an individual will not be as tasty.
4. If there is a strong "fishy" smell, it indicates that the animals have been stored for a long time and improperly.
5. If there are spots on the shell, it is better to refuse such a product.
6. You can identify a spoiled product by the shell, which has lost its luster.

Crab meat is stored at room temperature only for a couple of hours. When ready, the product should be stored in food foil.

Plastic containers are recommended for freezing. In this form, the crabs can be stored for up to a year. Meat that has been cleaned of offal will keep two days longer than whole crabs.

Live specimens should be kept as low as possible in the refrigerator to keep them longer. A great place in such a case is the vegetable departments. The product should be stored in salted water. However, a lot of water is not required, just enough to wet the carcasses without sinking them. Live animals need access to oxygen.

How to defrost crab meat

Crabmeat is a seafood product that must be defrosted in several steps. First of all, you should move the meat from the freezer to the top shelf of the refrigerator for a few hours. Then you need to lower the product to the bottom shelf for a couple of hours. In this case, the crab will be able to preserve all its useful properties and taste characteristics.

It is not recommended to defrost the delicacy in hot water, at room temperature or using a microwave oven. This spoils not only the appearance and taste of the product, but also contributes to the fact that part of the useful substances will evaporate.

What you can make with crab meat: Recipes

In many countries, crab meat is used to prepare various dishes. Use this seafood can be boiled or frozen, as well as canned. There are many dishes based on this delicacy, this ingredient goes well with many products, it can be used to prepare hot and cold dishes.

Salad

To prepare a crab meat salad, you will need to cut 0.5 kg of natural meat of this sea animal into thin shavings. Next, you should boil four eggs, put the yolks aside and cut the whites into julienne strips. After that, it is necessary to dice the red onions and marinate them in vinegar for 8-10 minutes. After this time, the vegetable should be rinsed under water and dried. You also need two cucumbers, from which you should remove the skin, and then chop them on a grater. The same should be done with 150 grams of hard cheese. Shredded ingredients should be combined in a bowl, add three tablespoons of mayonnaise and mix. If you prefer, you can decorate the snack with greenery.

Cutlets

From the crab meat you can make cutlets. To do this, take 200 grams of meat and cut into small pieces. Add to it one chopped onion, two boiled eggs, finely chopped, 100 grams of grated cheese and two cloves of garlic. All the components should be mixed until a homogeneous consistency is obtained. After that, you need to add a raw egg to the resulting mass and form cutlets. Next, the balls should be rolled in breadcrumbs and give them the desired shape. It takes about 20 minutes to fry. The dish is ready!

Soup

Crab meat soup is very appreciated by fans of seafood. Such a dish is very light and hearty. Of the ingredients, you should prepare 300 g of natural meat product, three garlic cloves, one onion, 150 g of canned tomatoes, 50 ml of cream, as well as herbs, salt and spices to taste. If the crab product is bought fresh, it should be dropped into boiling, salted water and cooked for 15-20 minutes. The onion and garlic should be chopped and fried in oil until tender. Next, clean the crab from its shell, chop it and add it to the vegetables. In the resulting mass pour a spoonful of broth, in which the crab was boiled, and season with spices. After that, you need to put chopped tomatoes into the pot, pour a liter of available broth and cook for five minutes. It remains only to include the cream in the dish, put the crab meat with vegetables and cook for a couple more minutes. The finished soup can be served with herbs.

Crab Facts

1. There are over 4,500 species of crabs. They can vary in appearance, but each species has two claws and eight legs.
2. The spider crab has the longest leg span, which is almost four meters. It turns out that its limb is almost five times longer than a human leg. This sea creature weighs up to 20 kg and lives about half a century.
3. The smallest member of the order is the pea crab, which is a few millimeters long.
4. To attract the attention of females, the male crabs perform a special dance during which they tap their claws and rattle their shell.
5. People began to eat crabs a long time ago. Currently, almost a million and a half tons of these marine animals are eaten worldwide every year.
6. The shell of a crab is not capable of growing along with it. For this reason, these crustaceans constantly molt, shedding the old outer skeleton and growing a new one. At the age of one year, the crab manages to change its shell 6-7 times. Adults do it much less often - 1-2 times during the year.
7. When fighting predators, the crab may lose a limb, but it soon grows back. Such sea creatures are used to living in any conditions. They have adapted both to the icy waters of Antarctica and to the boiling geysers at the bottom of the ocean. They can also live on rocks, away from water, and even in the hollow of a tree.
8. The crab's teeth are located in the stomach.

Crabmeat photo