• Fish;
• crustaceans, such as lobsters and shrimp;
• mollusks, such as the same oysters;
• echinoderms, like sea urchins.

Fish, shrimp, mussels, and all these marine companions have their perks. There’s a reason they’re included in the Mediterranean diet. Here are just a few good reasons to take a closer look at them on the supermarket shelf.

Seafood is rich in nutrients

If you have to single out just one plus point about seafood, perhaps it would be this one. Seafood is rich in nutrients, including B-complex vitamins and vitamin A.

Some fish, such as tuna, even contains vitamin D, which is good for bones and the immune system.

So, when you add some seafood to your plate, you are covering your body’s nutrient needs. This is especially true for those people who have a meager diet for various reasons. As well as those who have low levels of nutrients in their blood.

Seafood improves brain function

Let’s be honest, we all want to have clear and active brain function, stay energetic longer and not get tired before we should. The good news is that the omega-3 acids in seafood can help us do just that.

It is the omega-3 fatty acids that we need to keep our cognitive functions in check. In infants, it’s for brain growth and development; in the elderly, it’s for protection against Alzheimer’s disease. All in all, seafood from this perspective, is a pretty powerful product.

Seafood is good for the heart

A healthy heart is important to everyone and at any age. Naturally, diet alone is not enough, and the issue of cardiovascular health should be approached in a holistic manner. But! Seafood is rich in protein and low in saturated fat, not to mention the fact that it contains, again, omega-3’s, which can really help heart health and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Seafood can help you maintain your eyesight

It’s those fatty acids again! What can you do, but when it comes to seafood and vision, it’s all about those omega-3s again. Eating seafood on a regular basis can really help your vision stay intact.

Seafood improves the condition of your skin

Who doesn’t love a nourished, moisturized and youthful looking skin? The composition of seafood is exactly what saturates the body with everything that is good for the skin. And as a result, you get healthy, clear skin on your face and body.

Seafood may help fight depression

A new study on omega-3 fatty acids (found in seafood) and depression has found that eating seafood may not only lower your risk of depression, but may also help treat it and give you a more positive outlook on life.

The post What are the benefits of seafood for the body appeared first on Count The Erfish.

Squid. As a rule, squid have a mass of up to 350 grams. But there are some that reach 750 grams. They should be properly stored and processed, as the quality of the prepared dishes depends on it. Frozen squid is better defrosted in the air or in water at a temperature of 18-20 degrees. After they thaw, their insides are removed. To get rid of the skin, you should scald them with hot water for 4-5 minutes, stirring continuously. After scalding, rinse with cold water. If you want to reduce the loss of mass, then in this case you should scald squid for no more than 30 seconds, after which also rinse with cold water. True, with this option, squid acquire a pink coloring.

Scallop. This is an ordinary bivalve shell. Its meat is very tender and tasty. The edible part is the muscle and mantle. It is boiled in boiling salted water for 7-10 minutes. Roots and spices should be added to the water for better flavor and aroma. After boiling, the clams are cooled and sliced. Scallops are very good for preparing delicacy dishes and appetizers, salads, first courses. They can also be baked and fried.

Mussel. By taste, mussels resemble the protein of a boiled egg with a fishy flavor. They contain a large amount of iodine, so it is recommended to consume mussels for therapeutic and dietary purposes. Especially patients with atherosclerosis. In food is consumed, as in the scallop, muscle and mantle. Before cooking mussel shells should be picked, cleaned with a knife impurities, pour cold water and soak for several hours. After that, rinse and boil once again. Boil mussels in boiling salted water for 15-20 minutes. Now you can open the shells and remove the meat from them, rinsing once again, but already in boiled water. Mussels are also good for making salads, cold and hot appetizers, soups.

Trepangs. These are representatives of echinoderm mollusks. They have an elongated rounded shape, for which they are nicknamed sea cucumbers. Their meat tastes similar to the cartilage of sturgeon fish. Trepangs can be sold in dried form. Dried trepangas are coated with charcoal powder, it is used in the drying process. Therefore, they must be rinsed thoroughly with warm water before use. Then they should be poured with cold water and left in it to swell for twenty-four hours. During the day, the water should be changed 2-3 times. Their mass should increase approximately five times.

The post How do you prepare seafood for consumption? appeared first on Count The Erfish.