Are Scallops Healthy? YES, but why?
Scallops are a healthy option and a perfect solution this time of year for the health conscious looking to add variety to their diet. How many of us make New Years Resolutions on 1st January only to have broken them by the end of the month? Well we thought we would give you a helping hand going into February! So here’s some interesting information on why scallops are a good healthy option to help you keep on track.
Why oh Why?
Scallops are made up of over 80 percent protein. A typical serving provides 20 grams of protein with only 95 calories. It is important to every cell in the body. Hair and nails are made up of mainly protein. The body needs protein to help build and repair tissues. It is required to make enzymes, hormones, and other body chemicals. It is an important building block for bones, muscles, cartilage, skin, and blood.
The body does not store protein therefore it has no reservoir to draw from when it needs a new supply. It is a “macronutrient,” which means that the body requires relatively large amounts of it. For those looking to lose body fat, a higher protein intake could help. It can help to reduce hunger pangs and boosts the metabolism. Of course other dietary changes need to be made to guarantee weight loss. Increasing your protein intake is a very good start though!
Them bones them bones!
Scallops are a good source of Magnesium. Magnesium plays a critical role for bone formation and bone density. It helps the body to effectively assimilate calcium into the bones and activates vitamin D in the kidneys. Vitamin D is also important for healthy bones. Magnesium becomes more important as we age to keep the bones healthy.
Protective Potassium
Scallops also contain Potassium, one of the most important minerals in the body. Potassium helps to regulate the balance of acids and bases in the body. It is also important for muscle contractions and nerve signals. Potassium is an electrolyte which counteracts the effects of sodium in the body. This is good for helping maintain a consistent blood pressure. A high potassium diet may actually help to reduce blood pressure and water retention, this can help to protect against stroke, osteoporosis and kidney stones.
It’s all about the Vitamin B12
Scallops are an excellent source of vitamin B12 which is important for cardiovascular health. The body needs Vitamin B12 to convert homocysteine, this is a chemical that can directly damage blood vessel walls. Homocysteine is also associated with osteoporosis! Since high levels of homocysteine are associated with an increased risk for diabetic heart disease, heart attack and stroke, it’s a good idea to be sure that your diet contains plenty of vitamin B12, helping keep homocysteine levels low. Vitamin B12 has also been shown to protect against colon cancer by protecting cells of the colon from mutations as a result of cancer-causing chemicals.
A Healthy Heart
Fish which is rich in omega-3 fats, such as scallops, help to promote cardiovascular health by increasing heart rate variability (HRV), a measure of cardiac function. Greater variability between beats reduces the risk of arrhythmia and/or sudden death and heart attack.
What’s cooking good looking?
Of course the way you cook the foods you eat also plays a significant part in how healthy those foods are! Broiled or baking is a far better and healthier option than frying. With that said there are of course times when frying adds to the flavour therefore choose a healthier lower fat spray and use sparingly.
Eating a healthier balanced diet including more, fish, fruit and vegetables, with less red and processed meats can also help to decrease your risk of Deep Vein Thrombosis.
So eat live Scallops as part of your healthy eating regime!