Health benefits and harms of crab sticks

Crab sticks - a well-known product, which is an imitation of crab meat. There are many different recipes for cooking. And although there is no crab meat in their composition, the sticks have gained popularity due to their unusual taste and affordable price.

What crab sticks are made of

The main content of crab sticks is surimi. So the Japanese called minced meat obtained from ocean fish. The composition includes the following varieties of fish: mackerel, hake, putasu, pollock, etc.

The process of making surimi consists in repeatedly washing the fish fillet, chopping and mixing to a homogeneous consistency. The mass is then centrifuged to remove excess fluid. The result is a soft mass with a pleasant fishy smell and taste. Due to its properties, surimi is used to simulate many seafood, including crab sticks.

Surimi is considered a useful product that includes a rich mineral composition and vitamins. After processing, the amount of these substances decreases. Some manufacturers add by-products to surimi, which leads to a decrease in the quality of minced meat and a change in its smell, taste and color.

To save raw materials, soy protein is put in crab sticks. It is known that soy is a product of gene modification and opponents of this method should read the composition of crab sticks on the package. In such cases, they need to look for the words "non-GMO".

In crab sticks there is: egg powder, vegetable oil, starch, salt and sugar. To give a special taste, they add many chemicals.

The composition of crab sticks

The chemical composition of crab sticks is rich, they contain:

• Microelements (chromium, chlorine, iron, iodine, zinc, nickel, molybdenum).
• Nicotinic acid and vitamin PP.

Crab sticks are a low-calorie product, so they can be consumed by people who monitor their weight. Their nutritional value per 100 g is only 100 kcal.

The content of crab sticks is not completely useful, because its composition contains not only natural components.

Positive properties of crab sticks

Crab sticks will not replace completely fresh fish. However, they can be a pleasant addition to the diet and add variety to it. Experts recommend consuming no more than 100 g of crab sticks per day.

100 g of product contains calcium (13 mg) and magnesium (43 mg). These minerals have a beneficial effect on the blood vessels, heart and nervous system.

It is useful to use crab sticks for diseases of the musculoskeletal system.

The benefits of crab sticks

It is impossible to talk about any special useful properties of crab sticks. Even if the consumed product is of the highest quality, the only ingredient that has a positive effect is fish protein. It contains a small amount of minerals and vitamins. The proportion of protein in the product is negligible.

Dietary Crab Sticks

Crab sticks are useful for losing weight.They can be used as a dietary product that is quickly absorbed and saturated by the body.

“Crab” diet involves the use of 200 g of sticks per day, a liter of milk and at least 2 liters of water. This diet should be observed within 4 days. Sticks containing only surimi and salt do not exist, therefore, a longer stay on such a menu is prohibited.

Before starting a diet, you need to consult a doctor in order to avoid negative consequences.

Crab sticks in cooking

Crab sticks can be used to prepare a wide variety of dishes. These include salads and snacks, in rare cases they are used in recipes for hot dishes. The combination of crab sticks with canned corn is especially attractive, which has long been a classic among housewives. Therefore, they can be found on any holiday table.

How to choose quality crab sticks

The choice of a high-quality product must be approached with all responsibility. Initially, you should pay attention to the color of the crab sticks.

A good product is usually white with a uniform structure, which after defrosting maintains a soft consistency. Sticks should not be saturated with water.

It is not recommended to buy the product by weight, because in this case there is completely no information about the manufacturer and their contents.

Before choosing crab sticks, you must carefully familiarize yourself with their composition. Surimi should take the first place in it. In a useful product, its percentage is at least 40%. Although manufacturers rarely indicate the proportions of the components on the package. In the case when the first ingredient in crab sticks is soy protein or starch, it is best to refuse to purchase them. Such a product will not bring any benefit to the body. Ideally, the protein in the sticks should be completely absent, and starch should be only 8-10%.

Usually they are painted pink on one side and white on the other. If they have a saturated bright red hue, then this may indicate the use of unnatural dyes. Usually, carmine and paprika are used for this.

Quality sticks are not cheap, and they should be sold in their original packaging. And in the composition should be present in a greater amount of natural components.

The harm of crab sticks

The food additives present in the product (E-450, E-420, E-171 and E-160) can cause allergic reactions. People suffering from this disease should use crab sticks with caution. With this composition, the product is completely lacking useful substances, and its nutritional value will be zero.

Due to the fact that crab sticks do not undergo heat treatment, it is possible that they are infected with pathogenic microorganisms. It is best to buy the product in a vacuum package that protects against dirt and pathogens.

The soy protein contained in the product can lead to exacerbation of chronic diseases. People suffering from liver and kidney diseases should consume crab sticks in minimal amounts.

Product restrictions include:

• individual intolerance;
• allergic reactions;
• pregnancy and lactation;
• the age of the child is up to 3 years.
• gastritis;
• diabetes

Crab sticks do not belong to useful or harmful products. A large amount of minced fish is present in high quality products. Sticks can be considered as a dish used in diet food. A large number of harmful additives in them with regular consumption can harm the body. Therefore, sticks must be consumed in minimal quantities and purchased from trusted manufacturers.

Video: everything you did not know about crab sticks!