Why Eating Crab Is Beneficial To You

Crab is an incredibly popular delicacy that’s found on most seafood menus. There are several different species of crabs but only a few of these are pursued as a food source. These sea creatures have a hard exoskeleton and a pair of claws. The exoskeleton is first broken down for the nutritional meat underneath. The amount of meat inside snow crab legs may surprise you.

Benefits of eating crab meat

Crab meat is far more than just a delicious entrée thanks to the numerous nutrients, essential fats, and minerals that it’s packed with. All these are essential to the functioning of the human body and offer an array of impressive health benefits. Let’s look at seven benefits below: 

• Promotes healthy bones and teeth 

Crab meat has impressively high potassium levels and this makes it a very important food for people who want to improve their bone health. Older people are at a very high risk of suffering from osteoporosis. Adding crab meat to their diet helps them lead a more active lifestyle even in old age.

Besides being important in skeletal health and development, the phosphorous is an important mineral in the formation of healthy teeth. 

• Boosts our brain activity 

Crab meat is rich in copper, selenium, and omega-3 polyunsaturated acids. All these are attributed to better cognition and improved activity of the nervous system. These nutrients combine into a perfect cognitive cocktail that strengthens the myelin and reduces plaque in neural pathways.  

There’s research suggesting that omega-3 plays a role in inhibiting aggressive behavior.  

• Protects the heart 

The omega-3 fatty acids found in crab meat balance our cholesterol levels and this helps to reduce blood pressure, lowers the strain on the heart, and prevents heart attack and stroke. 

The phosphorous present in crab meat is also involved in improving heart muscle contractions. This is very crucial in lowering the risk of heart attack and stroke. 

• Reduces inflammation 

Some of the nutrients that are associated with reducing inflammation throughout the body include omega-3, selenium, and copper all of which we find in crab meat. 

Add this nutritious delicacy to your diet if you suffer from chronic arthritis, gout, or any gastrointestinal inflammation problems. 

• Boosts overall immunity 

The immune system needs all the help it can possibly get considering the illnesses and pathogens that attack it all the time. Crab fish is particularly rich in selenium which is a powerful antioxidant that plays a huge role in the antioxidant defense system by protecting against the damage to cells and tissues.   

Riboflavin increases the production of antioxidants and also plays a role in supporting the activity of antioxidants.

Copper is involved in the absorption, storage, and metabolism of iron. The iron is important in the formation of red blood cells and blood vessels. This plays a huge role in keeping the immune system functional and healthy. 

• Detoxifies the body 

The main centers for detoxification of the blood and body are the kidney and liver. But those are still not enough as there’s so much waste material that needs to be eliminated from our bodies. The phosphorous found in crab meat is helpful in improving the functioning of kidneys, which speeds up the removal of toxins from the body. This significantly improves the overall metabolic efficiency. 

• Improves circulation 

The role that copper plays in our bodies is greatly overlooked yet it’s a very important nutrient in regular organ functioning. Copper is important in the absorption of iron in the gut. The iron aids in the production of red blood cells which in turn boost blood circulation. This ensures that oxygenated blood reaches all parts of the body. The results are speedy regeneration of cells following an illness or injury. 

Conclusion 

Crab meat is packed with nutrients that help the human body to function normally. 

Although crab meat detoxifies the body, protects the heart, strengthens our bones, stimulates circulation, and reduces inflammation, it’s advisable that you only eat it in moderation. The meat has high sodium and cholesterol levels. This means that regular consumption does more harm than good especially for people suffering from cardiovascular diseases and high cholesterol. If you have any of these conditions, consult with a nutritionist before adding crab meat to your diet.