River Snails Are as Nutritious as Abalone During the Mid-Autumn Festival.

There is also a saying in old Guangzhou: "Sip river snail meat under the moonlight, and your eyes will become brighter." It is said that when the bright moon is high in the sky during the Mid-Autumn Festival, sipping river snails while facing the moon can improve eyesight. Eating river snails is common everywhere, but when and where it was introduced to Guangzhou has been lost to history. However, this article will answer your questions one by one, such as whether river snails have the effect of improving eyesight, their nutritional value, and how to cook them healthily.

1. The nutritional value of river snails is comparable to abalone

River snails are a typical natural food that is high in protein, low in fat, and high in calcium. They are rich in proteins, vitamins, and minerals needed by the human body. "Jiangxi Aquatic Science and Technology" introduces that every 100 grams of river snails contains 18.2 grams of protein, 0.6 grams of fat, 354mg of phosphorus, 22mg of iron, 0.4mg of Vitamin B2, and abundant Vitamin A. According to measurements, the protein content of fresh snails is as high as 50.2%, of which lysine accounts for 2.84% and methionine accounts for 2.33%.

In comparison, the nutritional value of abalone pales in comparison. According to a report in "China Ocean News," every 100 grams of abalone contains 12.6 grams of protein, and river clams contain 10.9 grams, with a fat content of 0.8 grams for both. In contrast, river snails have a fat content of only 0.2 grams. Among these three types of shellfish, river snails have the highest protein content and the lowest fat content, making them a nutritional standout in the world of shellfish.

Spicy River Snails

2. Eating river snails can improve eyesight

According to measurements, every 100 grams of river snails contains 130 international units of Vitamin A. Vitamin A helps the eyes adapt to light from the outside world, reducing the incidence of night blindness and vision loss. Vitamin A also helps treat various eye diseases, such as dry eyes and conjunctivitis. Therefore, the old saying that river snails improve eyesight is reasonable. The river snail's close relative, the stone snail, also has astonishing nutritional value. We all know that dairy products are the main source of calcium, but the champion of calcium content in food is the stone snail. The calcium content of 100 grams of stone snail is about 3 times that of dried shrimp and 50 times that of milk.

Stuffed River Snails

3. The entire river snail is a treasure in medicine

River snails are not only a delicacy to be enjoyed but also a savior in treating illnesses. The entire river snail is a treasure; both its meat and shell can be used as medicine. Gong Yanxian of the Ming Dynasty wrote in "A Four Hundred-Word Ballad on Medicinal Properties": "River snails are cold-natured, promote urination, aid digestion and reduce heat, and sober up instantly." Li Shizhen also wrote in "Compendium of Materia Medica": "It promotes the excretion of damp-heat and treats jaundice." River snail meat is sweet and cold-natured, with effects of clearing heat, improving eyesight, promoting urination, and relieving strangury. It is mainly used to treat conditions such as hot, painful urination, urinary retention, hemorrhoids, and jaundice. The snail shell is sweet and neutral-natured, with effects of resolving masses, healing sores, and relieving pain. It is mainly used to treat heart and spleen pain, infantile head sores, and acute infantile convulsions.

According to modern medical research, river snails can be used to treat bacterial dysentery, otitis media, rectal prolapse, boils, and bromhidrosis. Crushed river snail meat can also be applied topically to treat various ailments. For example, for urinary retention and abdominal distension, "two river snails, half a spoon of salt, crush them raw and apply to the navel." River snails are rich in Vitamin B1, which can prevent and treat beriberi, and are also effective for diarrhea caused by drinking raw water. River snails also have a sedative effect on the nervous system, making them an ideal food when feeling mentally stressed.

River snails are cold-natured and should not be consumed in excess, and they can be incompatible with other foods. According to the Guangdong Food Safety website, river snails are incompatible with muskmelons, wood ear mushrooms, iced products, and beef, as this can lead to indigestion. River snails should also not be eaten with fava beans, clams, noodles, or corn, as this can cause food poisoning symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, and intestinal colic.

Stir-fried River Snails with Garlic and Chili Sauce