Studies Proving Scallops are Good for Health
Scallops, snails, sea slugs, clams, mussels, octopuses and squid are bivalve mollusks belonging to the same family, Pectinidae. These marine animals are unlike other bivalves as they are free-swimming, opening and closing their shells as they go, using their powerful adductor muscle. That muscle is the round, fleshy thing you are eating when you order scallops in a restaurant.
Delicious, tender and juicy, scallops can be grilled, baked, deep fried, broiled, or pan seared. Many studies have been published attesting to their being one of the world’s superfoods beneficial to health.
Benefits of Eating Scallop
A scallop diet, studies say, at thrice a month, works against ischemic stroke caused by lack of blood supply to the brain. The diet’s rich omega-3 fatty acids, with potassium and magnesium, lower triglyceride levels and reduce the risk of blood clots, which can cause heart attacks or strokes. They can help you lose weight, by stimulating the rates of metabolism. It is best not consume scallops in the fried form or covered with a rich sauce to make the most of this benefit.
Apart from being a powerhouse of these fatty acids, studies claim scallops are a good source of magnesium and potassium, two nutrients that provide significant benefits for cardiovascular health. Magnesium helps blood vessels to relax, lowering blood pressure while improving blood flow. Potassium helps to maintain normal blood pressure levels. The vitamin B12 in scallops converts a harmful chemical (homocysteine) from directly damaging blood vessel walls, associated with an increased risk for atherosclerosis, diabetic heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. This small delicacy also eases the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome, prevents arthritis, and combats skin disorders.
Another study says that eating broiled or baked, but not fried, scallops may reduce risk of atrial fibrillation, the most common type of an irregular heartbeat that can be life-threatening, leading to blood clots, stroke, heart failure, or sudden death. Still another study says that a scallop diet (or a fish diet) offers protection against three types of cancer: leukemia, multiple myeloma, and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma due to its vitamin B12. In a brain cell research, it was found that the DHA in scallops boosts production of a protein which destroys the plaques associated with Alzheimer’s disease. No wonder this is called a superfood!
A Delicate Power Food in Bellevue
One of the world’s healthiest foods we serve here at Flo Sushi and Sake Bar in Bellevue. Dine on scallops and reap the benefits of long life.