What is crab?
The spider crab (or spider crab, or crab; scientific name Maja squinado) is a crustacean like a big crab, and can reach a size of 20 cm. It lives in the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. In Italy it is particularly abundant in the northern Adriatic Sea and in the lagoons; not by chance "crab" is derived from the fusion of the Venetian word "granso" and "Seola", "onion crab." This crustacean is also called, however, in many other ways depending on the region where you are (in Liguria it is referred to as faolo (or grittun), Friuli Venezia Giulia it is called Granzo (or musciarola), in Tuscany it is called the daisy, and then still marmottam pilargiu in Sardinia, Puglia and suenne tarantula in Sicily).
What are the nutritional properties of crab?
100g of crab provide approximately 80 Calories:
- about 80 g of water
- 1.80 g of carbohydrates
- 15,10 g of protein
- 0.90 g of lipid
- 320 mg of phosphorus,
- other minerals(potassium, sodium)
When should you not eat crab?
There are some known interactions between the consumption of crab and the intake of drugs or other substances. In case of doubt it is good to seek advice from your doctor.
Seasonality of the spider crab
The best months to buy crab are December, January, April and May. The spider crab is available on the market both from fishing and from fish farms..
Possible benefits and drawbacks of the spider crab
The consumption of crab allows the body to be supplied with good quality assumendopochi fat protein. It also helps to meet the daily requirements of phosphorus (important for the health of bones and teeth) and potassium (by controlling heart rate and blood pressure helps reduce cardiovascular risk).
But we must not forget that crustaceans are sources of cholesterol and that crab contains high quantities of sodium. Both of these nutrients should be taken in moderation so as not to endanger the health of the heart and arteries: in fact cholesterol accumulates in artery walls, increasing the risk of atherosclerosis and all its consequences. Excess sodium can instead increase water retention, promoting edema and hypertension.
