Introduction: Everything withers in winter, but it's a great season for seafood. So, what's the best seafood to eat in winter? What should you pay attention to when eating seafood in winter?
Although the selection of seafood in winter is limited, it is indeed a good season for it. As it is the dormant period for most seafood, they are very plump and rich in protein and unsaturated fatty acids, with low fat content. This ensures good health without worrying about weight gain.
In winter, the human body's consumption of iron and iodine increases, leading to deficiencies in these elements, slow blood circulation, and a greater tendency to feel cold and fear the cold. The content of these trace elements in seafood is much higher than in ordinary foods, making it very suitable for winter consumption. Additionally, the unsaturated fatty acids in seafood can resist blood clotting and reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, and hypertension in the elderly during winter.
Spicy Stir-fried River Snails
What seafood is suitable for eating in winter?
Shellfish
In spring and summer, shellfish are in their reproductive period, with tender and tasteless meat. However, in winter, they enter a dormant period, their activity decreases, and the consumption of nutrients is reduced, making them very suitable for consumption. Shellfish also have a unique effect of inhibiting cholesterol synthesis in the liver and accelerating its excretion, which helps lower cholesterol in the body and is suitable for people with high cholesterol.
Tiger Prawns
Winter is the spawning season for tiger prawns. At this time, they are the most plump and have the highest nutritional value. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that tiger prawns have the effects of tonifying the kidneys, strengthening yang, nourishing blood, and securing essence. Therefore, they are most suitable for men's health maintenance.
Hairtail
Hairtail is extremely nutritious, with a protein content twice that of pork, and it is highly absorbed by the human body. The vitamin D, calcium, and phosphorus in the fish can effectively prevent osteoporosis. Regular consumption of hairtail can moisturize the skin and maintain its moisture and elasticity. Furthermore, the "scales" on the surface of the hairtail are formed by a special layer of fat, which is rich in protein, iron, iodine, and other nutrients, as well as a large amount of lecithin and various unsaturated fatty acids. It also contains a natural anti-cancer component: 6-thioguanine. It is very suitable for beauty-conscious women and patients with cardiovascular diseases.
Crabs
Delicious crabs can be eaten from August to the end of the year. Winter is the crab roe period for swimming crabs, when their nutritional value is very rich, containing a variety of trace elements and high-quality protein, and they also have a very good nourishing effect on the body.
Stir-fried Swimming Crab with Cauliflower
What should you pay attention to when eating sea crabs in winter?
1. When purchasing seafood in winter, be sure to ask about its origin and observe whether it is fresh and alive, and if its color is normal. Avoid buying seafood with unusual or fishy odors.
2. Seafood should be avoided raw in winter. Eating raw seafood has become a trend in China in recent years, but the issue of parasites has been ignored. Even in winter, both wild and farmed seafood still carry a risk of parasite infection, so it is best to avoid eating them raw. The bacteria in seafood are relatively heat-resistant. When cooking seafood, do not stop heating too early just to keep it tender. Generally, bacteria can be completely killed after 20 minutes of boiling.
3. Seafood is considered "cold" in nature. It should be eaten with "heaty" foods. Pregnant and breastfeeding women, as well as patients with gout, arthritis, and hyperuricemia, should also eat less seafood.
Braised Hairtail