Properties of shellfish

Benefits of eating shellfish

CHARACTERISTICS OF SHELLFISH

What is shellfish?

Shellfish is a food that comes from marine invertebrate animals. They have their body protected by an external skeleton.

Sometimes experts include seafood within the food group of fish, because they are of marine origin, although nutritionally they are very different and it is preferable to study them separately.

Photo of shellfish

Photo of shellfish

Types of shellfish

There are the following types of marine animals that can be included in the shellfish group:

  • Crustaceans: Shrimps, crayfish, lobsters, prawns, barnacles, spider crab, , crabs, etc.
  • Molluscs: Cockles, snails, oysters, scallops, cuttlefish, shrimp, mussels, clams, mussels, etc;
  • Echinoderms: Sea urchins.
  • Cephalopods, such as octopus, squid, cuttlefish are, nutritionally speaking, also shellfish, although their body is not protected by an external skeleton such as the previous ones

Why is it important to eat shellfish?

Shellfish is important because it provides proteins and these are complete, that is, eating shellfish is a way to ensure a good protein intake in the diet.

mussels

Photo of mussels, a type of shellfish

Shellfish fats and minerals

It also contains good quality fats and some minerals, mainly iodine, iron, phosphorus, magnesium and zinc.

Vitamins of shellfish

Some shellfish contains a lot of vitamin A (lobster, lobster, cuttlefish and octopus). They all have B vitamins, vitamin D and a lot of cholesterol.

Shellfish contains vitamin B12. Plant-based foods do not contain this vitamin, so people who are strictly vegetarian should take supplements to get it. The lack of this vitamin produces a major disease called anemia.

Shellfish, a food very rich in phosphorus

Shellfish is one of the foods richest in phosphorus that exist. It also contains choline and taurine, all of them essential components for the nervous system.


shellfish properties

Summary of the properties of shellfish

Which shellfish are the most appropriate?

You can make a varied diet that alternates different types of seafood.

How much shellfish should we eat daily?

It is recommended to eat 3 to 5 servings per week of shellfish and fish.

TO REMEMBER: SHELLFISH IN DIETETICS AND NUTRITION
  • Shellfish is a very important food in nutrition because it provides high quality proteins. It also contains fats, vitamins and minerals.
  • Only shellfish and other foods of animal origin contain vitamin B12
  • It is recommended to eat 3 to 5 servings of shellfish and fish per week. A varied consumption is recommended.
  • Strictly vegetarian people do not eat shellfish

nutrients characteristics

Characteristics of nutrients

child feeding course sign

Child feeding course index

punto rojoMore information on nutrition.

This article was endorsed by Vicente Martínez Centelles - Founder of the web and director. Teacher of natural sciences, expert in plants, natural remedies and botanical photography.
Editorial
Written by Editorial Botanical-online team in charge of content writing

29 February, 2024

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