Crab is more than a popular item on a seafood menu. Crab meat is packed with essential fats, nutrients, and minerals that the human body needs to function normally. From selenium and omega-3 fatty acids to protein and vitamin B, crab meat is a very good addition to your diet.
Crabs are some of the most popular and commonly caught
creatures in the sea, and while there are thousands of different species of
crabs across the world, there are only a handful of species that are widely
pursued as a food source, and even fewer that are raised in crab hatcheries for
more controlled cultivation.
Crabs are found in all of the world's oceans, while many
crabs live in fresh water and on land, particularly in tropical regions. Crabs
vary in size from the pea crab, a few millimeters wide, to the Japanese spider
crab, with a leg span of up to 4 metres (13 ft). Crabs make up 20% of all
marine crustaceans caught, farmed, and consumed worldwide, amounting to 1.5
million tonnes annually. One species, Portunus trituberculatus, accounts for
one-fifth of that total. Other commercially important taxa include Portunus pelagicus,
several species in the genus Chionoecetes, the blue crab (Callinectes sapidus),
Charybdis spp., Cancer pagurus, the Dungeness crab (Metacarcinus magister), and
Scylla serrata, each of which yields more than 20,000 tonnes annually.
Health Benefits:
- The protein in crab is of high quality and, because of a lack of connective tissue, very digestible for people of all ages.
- Crab is a rich in vitamins and minerals, crab meat is also low in fat and contains Omega-3polyunsaturated acids.
- Crab Helps provide protection from heart disease and aids brain development. Some research suggests that Omega-3 also inhibits aggressive behaviour. And it’s not just any old Omega-3 – it’s the long chain variety. These are more beneficial to our health because they can be used immediately, unlike short-chain Omega-3 found in vegetables and oils; they need to be converted to the long chain form first which our bodies aren’t very good at.
- Crab Contains iron, Its usually gets the spotlight, copper is involved in the absorption, storage and metabolism of iron. It is important in the formation of red blood cells and keeps bones, blood vessels, nerves and the immune system healthy.
- Phosphorus is after calcium the second most abundant mineral in the body. It is a principal mineral of bones and teeth and is, therefore, important in skeletal health and development. Crab is a rich source of Phosphorus. Also Phosphorus is involved in most metabolic actions in the body, including kidney functioning, cell growth and the contraction of the heart muscle. It is also involved in converting food to energy.
- 100g of crab provides 62% of daily recommended value for adult men and women.
Nutritional Facts:
| Nutrient | Value |
|---|---|
| Water [g] | 79.69 |
| Energy [kcal] | 83 |
| Energy [kJ] | 347 |
| Protein [g] | 17.88 |
| Total lipid (fat) [g] | 0.74 |
| Ash [g] | 1.96 |
| Calcium, Ca [mg] | 91 |
| Iron, Fe [mg] | 0.5 |
| Magnesium, Mg [mg] | 36 |
| Phosphorus, P [mg] | 234 |
| Potassium, K [mg] | 259 |
| Sodium, Na [mg] | 563 |
| Zinc, Zn [mg] | 3.81 |
| Copper, Cu [mg] | 0.81 |
| Manganese, Mn [mg] | 0.07 |
| Selenium, Se [µg] | 42.9 |
| Fluoride, F [µg] | 209.9 |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid [mg] | 3.3 |
| Thiamin [mg] | |
| Serving Size | 100 g |
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