Crabs are low in mercury, high in protein and essential minerals
Now that we are in peak crab season in the Gulf South, you may be wondering… are Louisiana Blue Crabs healthy? In recent years, people are becoming more health conscious and choosing to eat lighter foods. While most people immediately think of fish as the go-to protein alternative to meat, crab and other shellfish have many of the same healthy qualities as fish.
WHY ARE BLUE CRABS HEALTHY
Crab meat contains high amounts of vitamins, high quality proteins and amino acids, and minerals such as calcium, copper and zinc. Blue crab is low in carbohydrates with much smaller levels of saturated fat, which is linked to increased risk of heart disease. A 3-ounce serving of crab meat supplies 16.45 grams of protein, which is nearly as much protein as 3.5 ounces of meat or pork.
Both crab and other shellfish have high amounts of Chromium and Selenium. Chromium helps to lower blood glucose levels in the body, which helps to metabolize sugar. Selenium is an antioxidant and can cancel out the effects of carcinogens such as cadmium, mercury and arsenic. Crab meat also differs from other seafood in its low levels of mercury, which can be harmful to humans.
THE LOUISIANA BLUE CRAB
Accounting for a quarter of all crabs harvested in the United States, Louisiana blue crab has become a staple in many restaurants due to crabmeat’s sweet flavor and versatility in the kitchen. Blue crabs can be prepared in a large variety of ways. While Soft Shell Crab is perhaps the most common crab dish, Deanie’s Seafood Restaurants’ menus includes other dishes like Crabmeat Nachos, Crabmeat Remoulade, Crabmeat Au Gratin, Crab Quartet, and fresh lump crabmeat as a topping to any of our entrees. It also is found in our famous dressing featured in everything from Stuffed Flounder to Stuffed Shrimp, and on our special Holiday Take Home Menu’s Stuffed Mirlitons.
In a typical year, Deanie’s serves approximately 115,000 soft shell crabs, 12,000 dozen raw oysters, 85,000 cups of Seafood Gumbo, and 31,000 pounds of boiled crawfish! Get a taste of Louisiana Blue Crab by visiting our restaurants or ordering fresh Louisiana Blue Crab shipped directly to your home from our online seafood market, ShopDeanies.com. If you’re wanting to try your hand at cooking with crab, click on the link below to download our recipe for Stuffed Gulf Fish with our famous crabmeat dressing.
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DOMESTIC SEAFOOD
The USDA recommends adding at least two servings of seafood to your diet weekly, and domestic seafood is considered superior for its freshness, safety, sustainability, use of better labor practices, and support of the U.S. economy.
Roughly 66% of the seafood landed in the Gulf of Mexico comes through Louisiana. Deanie’s Seafood was the first restaurant in New Orleans to become certified as serving “Certified Authentic Louisiana Wild Seafood.” Seafood bearing this seal is caught in the Gulf of Mexico or Gulf Coast state waters by Louisiana licensed fisherman and is landed, processed, and packaged in Louisiana. This certification helps to ensure this region’s seafood will be available for generations to come.