Mussels are a very tasty and popular seafood that is of great benefit! Mussels are made of high-quality, easily absorbed protein by the body, and this is the most important source of energy. But besides it, the composition of mussels also includes a host of other useful substances. Which ones? How are they useful for humans? And can there be harm from mussels? Well, we will now discuss these and many other issues.
Beneficial features
For starters, it's worth just listing them. Here's what everyone needs to know about the benefits of mussels:
- They are satisfying, but low-calorie. There are only 77 kcal per 100 grams. The ratio B / W / Y is 11.5 / 2 / 3.3 g.
- Seafood strengthens the immune system and helps to eliminate harmful substances from the body, including radionuclides.
- Mussels are useful for improving brain activity, enhancing metabolic processes and strengthening vision.
- Seafood perfectly stimulates blood circulation and removes toxins, therefore it is recommended for arthritis.
- There are a lot of natural iodine in mussels, so it’s good for people with thyroid diseases and those who want to strengthen the cardiovascular system.
- This seafood improves the functioning of nerve cells and the central nervous system in general.
- Due to the high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids, the use of mussels reduces the risk of myocardial infarction, atherosclerosis and stroke.
- The natural stimulants that make up this seafood help restore strength after an illness.
Freshly caught mussels are the most useful. They need to be cooked on the same day, stored in the refrigerator. Live mussels must be processed under running cold water. Those with damaged or slightly open sinks must be discarded.
Essential Amino Acids
They are part of mussels, which explains the benefits of this seafood. Essential amino acids are substances that the human body cannot synthesize itself, but they are necessary for its full functioning and maintenance of health. Therefore, it is important to eat them with the right food.
The composition of mussels includes:
- Arginine. Promotes cell regeneration, stimulates the immune system, increases vascular permeability, increases testosterone levels.
- Valin. Participates in the development and restoration of muscle, maintains normal serotonin levels, and increases the production of growth hormone.
- Lysine. Expands blood vessels, improves memory and libido, prevents atherosclerosis, strengthens hair.
- Leucine. Protects muscles and cells from decay and aging, lowers blood sugar, maintains a normal nitrogen balance, and participates in hematopoiesis.
- Threonine. It prevents the deposition of fats in the liver, speeds up the metabolism, positively affects the digestive tract.
Also, the composition of mussels includes histidine, isoleucine, methionine and tryptophan, but in smaller quantities.
Essential Amino Acids
The body can synthesize these substances itself, but if a person consumes mussels, then there will not be such a need, since their composition contains them in abundance. The largest amount of seafood includes:
- Aspartic acid. Redistributes nitrogen in the body, neutralizes ammonia, and in the liver turns into glucose.
- Glutamic acid. Participates in energy metabolism and the production of certain hormones, plays the role of a mediator of nerve impulses.
- Glycine. Participates in the synthesis of creatinine, peptides, bile conjugated acids, lipids.
A smaller amount in the mussel contains alanine, serine, proline, tyrosine and cysteine.
Vitamins, macro- and microelements
Their high content also explains the benefits of mussels. In total, this seafood includes 12 vitamins - A, E, K, C, PP and as many as 7 from group B. It is most found in mussels of choline (B4). This substance is indispensable for cholesterol and fat metabolism, it is necessary for the full functioning of the central nervous system.
There are only five macroelements in mussels: phosphorus, sodium, magnesium, calcium and potassium. The last one is the most! There are 320 mg of potassium per 100 g of seafood. But everyone knows that it is necessary to maintain fluid and water-salt balance, protein synthesis, protein and carbohydrate metabolism, and also the conversion of glucose into energy.
There are also five trace elements: zinc, selenium, manganese, copper and iron. All of them are necessary for the body. Iron is the most in mussels, and this is good, because this microelement provides tissue respiration, catalyzing metabolic processes, participates in the creation of nerve impulses and their subsequent passage through nerve fibers.
Benefit for men
Based on the foregoing, it can be understood that mussels are a real storehouse of nutrients. It really is! But what are their specific benefits? For mussels, for example, what are good mussels? In short, the following:
- Seafood is almost pure protein. It is a source of health, strength and energy, positively affects the emotional state and mental activity.
- Mussels consumed in sufficient quantities support muscle mass.
- This seafood promotes the active production of testosterone. Because it contains zinc and selenium. And these substances have a direct effect on the normalization of testosterone levels.
- Mussels - a natural aphrodisiac. They increase reproductive function and improve the viscosity of seminal fluid.
The benefits of mussels for the male body are invaluable. In addition to the above, they strengthen bone tissue and joints. Representatives of a strong part of humanity who regularly use this product are less prone to arthritis, and this significantly pushes the border of male age-related changes.
Benefits for women
It is also worth talking about. The benefits of mussels for women are explained by their high content of calcium and phosphorus. Thanks to these substances, regularly consumed seafood helps to improve the condition of nails, hair and skin.
As mentioned at the beginning, this product is low in calories. So it can be consumed even during a strict diet.
In addition, the complex of substances and vitamins contained in this seafood prevents premature skin aging.
Can mussels be pregnant?
It’s even necessary! But only if they are guaranteed to benefit the woman. Mussels and harm can be caused if they are allergic or if they are used during the lactation period, which is not recommended.
In the absence of contraindications during pregnancy, you even need to eat this seafood. The protein and microelements contained in it will support the health of the expectant mother and help the fetus develop properly. Plus, they are absorbed much easier than other nutritious dishes, which is important.
In addition, regular consumption of mussels will help a woman accumulate polyunsaturated fatty acids in the body. Thanks to this, there will be no problems with digestion.
Seafood harm
Among the pluses there is always a place and minuses. Much has been said above about the benefits of mussels. And the harm from their use is also worth mentioning.
The main problem is saxitoxin. Purine alkaloid, which is part of the mussels that live in the sea not in running water. If there is no course, then the toxin is simply not washed out of it. This should be considered by everyone who collects shellfish.
It is also strongly not recommended to buy mussels specially grown for sale. In artificial reservoirs, water circulates extremely poorly. Much worse than at sea, therefore, mollusks accumulate poison in themselves in huge quantities.
Before buying, it is important to know where the mussels were collected. In Turkey and Japan, for example, mollusk farms are arranged right in the sea, where there is a natural course. They are grown on special banks, in quality they are in no way inferior to the wild. But it is better to refuse mussels from Chinese and Korean production. It is in these countries that most farms are located in stagnant water bodies. Mussels in oil will not bring any benefit. Harm and intoxication - this is what you are most likely to face. And often these mussels are canned.
Proper cooking
I would like to talk about this in the end. Canned mussels in oil may benefit, but it is best to eat fresh seafood.
How to cook a delicacy? First you need to thoroughly rinse them under running cold water, clean them from sinks, and then rinse again from the sand.
After that, you need to throw seafood in salted water with spices and put on a strong fire to cook. Cooking fresh mussels will take 2-3 minutes, frozen - about 5-7.
Serving is recommended with white wine, after sprinkling the finished delicacy with lemon juice. You can also make a sauce of olive oil, herbs and garlic. Such mussels will bring invaluable benefits to the body.
Want some fried seafood? Then you need a barbecue or grill. Mussels properly cook only on an open fire. The process is very simple. You just need to build a strong fire and put mussels on the grill grate. After two minutes, they will open and release the liquid. As soon as this happens, keep them a little on the fire, enough for 1-2 minutes.
Carefully remove the mussels from the heat and serve with lemons so that everyone sprinkles the dish on their own before eating. It turns out very tasty and fast.