There’s a saying that “food can be medicine.” Just by eating fresh food, one’s immunity can be strengthened. Blood clams, loved for their unique chewiness and taste, are delicious whether eaten hot and boiled or mixed with rice. What are the health benefits of blood clams, which are tasty and rich in protein, antioxidants, and essential amino acids? However, there is a fact that one can get norovirus if blood clams are consumed incorrectly. Let’s find out the benefits of blood clams and what to be aware of when consuming them.
Vascular Health
Blood clams contain taurine, three times more than squid and ten times more than mackerel. Taurine lowers cholesterol levels in the blood, promotes smooth blood circulation, prevents vascular diseases such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, and stroke, and stabilizes blood pressure. It also increases the concentration of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), often referred to as the ‘blood vessel cleaner,’ inhibits the formation of blood clots, and lowers harmful cholesterol levels in the blood.
Bone Health and Diet
23% of blood clams are composed of essential amino acids and proteins. They contain 173mg of potassium and 113mg of iron per 100g, beneficial for muscle strengthening, promoting growth in children during their growth period, and skeletal development. While they are rich in protein and other nutrients, they are low in fat and have low calories, about 81 calories per 100g, making them suitable for dieting.
Hangover Relief
Blood clams are rich in betaine, which helps detoxify the liver, prevents fat from accumulating, and effectively protects the liver and regenerates liver cells. Taurine also has the effect of expelling toxins in the body, improving liver function, and recovering damaged liver. Therefore, consuming blood clams can improve liver function and fatigue recovery effects.
Anti-Aging and Immunity Boosting
The powerful antioxidant selenium in blood clams removes active oxygen, maintaining elastic skin and effectively preventing aging. Also, blood clams contain a large amount of hexane, which is good for boosting immunity and protecting our bodies from bacteria or viruses trying to invade from the outside.
Anemia Prevention
Blood clams are high in iron content and contain a large amount of minerals and vitamin B2, making them effective in preventing anemia and beneficial for pregnant women or women during their menstrual cycle. Also, blood clams contain a balanced amount of high-quality protein, vitamins, and essential amino acids.
Side Effects of Blood Clams?
Blood clams are cold-natured foods, so people with cold bodies should eat them cautiously. Overeating can make the body even colder, leading to abdominal pain, diarrhea, or indigestion. The recommended daily intake of blood clams is about a bowl of rice based on peeled blood clams. If you have a cold body, it’s better to consume within the recommended amount. People who are allergic to shellfish and clams should also be careful. Severe abdominal pain, difficulty breathing, and skin rashes can occur if an allergic reaction occurs.
Norovirus in Blood Clams?
Norovirus infection is an acute gastroenteritis caused by norovirus infection. It occurs all year round in Korea but more frequently in winter. Norovirus can infect anyone. Norovirus is common in vegetables, oysters, clams, and sushi, and you can get food poisoning if you consume these foods without thoroughly cooking them or drink contaminated water. Ingredients such as blood clams, oysters, and monkfish should be cooked at a core temperature of 85℃ for more than a minute.
How to Properly Boil Blood Clams?
If you boil blood clams for a long time, the flesh becomes brutal, and the taste decreases. Therefore, you should think of it as ‘blanching’ rather than boiling. Prepare enough water so that the blood clams can be fully submerged. Once the water is boiling, put in the blood clams and cook them for less than 3 minutes. At this time, stirring in one direction makes the clam meat stick to one side of the shell, making it easier to eat. Also, when boiling, adding a spoon or two of honey to the water or slicing green chili peppers and adding them can help remove the fishy smell.
How to Choose Blood Clams?
The way to choose fresh blood clams is to select ones with unbroken shells, clear wave patterns, and clean surfaces. You can purchase fresh blood clams, especially if you choose the one that shrinks slightly when you touch the shell. The purchased blood clams should be washed like laundry in water with coarse salt. The shell of the blood clams is deep and dense, so the mud does not come out easily with one or two washes. Therefore, rinse it several times until the water you wash the blood clams in becomes clean.
Three Types of Blood Clams Sold in the Market
The blood clams distributed in the market are divided into three major types: Tegillarca granosa, Scapharca subcrenata, and Scapharca broughtonii. All belong to the Arcidae family. The blood clams are round and fan-shaped and can be distinguished by the presence of fur on the surface of the shell and the number and shape of the ridges. As the consumption and cooking methods vary depending on the type of blood clams, it is best to know well and consume accordingly.
By. Oh Hye-in
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