Green lipped mussels are one of the easiest mussels to find. Seafood restaurants, mostly serve it with various sauces. Green-lipped mussels become a favorite because of its chewy texture. Not only delicious to eat, but this kind of mussel also offers various health benefits for the body. Below are the green lipped mussel benefits for humans, especially for their health.
Health Benefits of Green Lipped Mussels
Reducing the Risk of Inflammation
Besides fish that contains high Omega 3, green-lipped mussels also contain quite many essential fatty acids. Such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), which are forms of Omega 3. By consuming green mussels, you will be able to maintain the level of Omega 3 fatty acids in your body.
A number of research showed that higher intakes of Omega 3 can help to reduce the risk of inflammation, especially in patients with diabetes, obesity, and heart attack.
Increasing the Health of the Brain and Heart
Besides containing Omega 3 fatty acids, green mussels also contain high Vitamin B12. Those 2 nutrients are known as the best nutrient to keep the health of the heart. A number of research has related the consumption of Omega 3 fatty acids contained in mussels that can reduce the risk of heart diseases.
Omega 3 and Vitamin B12 can also maintain the health of the brain. Some research has shown that deficiency of vitamin B12 and omega-3 fatty acids can cause problems in brain development.
Enhancing the Immune System
The next health benefit of green mussels is enhancing the body immune system. A good body immune system can prevent bad bacteria that can make you sick. Green mussels are rich in Zinc that can enhance your immune system. This mineral is needed to develop cells that support the immune system and acts as an antioxidant that can protect your body’s cells from damages in case of inflammation.
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Preventing Anemia
When someone is suffering from anemia, they will experience a lack of healthy red blood cells in their blood. In order to overcome this condition, they have to make sure their nutrient intakes. They have to consume food that can increase the production of red blood cells.
Green mussels contain several micronutrients that can prevent anemia, which are iron and Vitamin B12. Iron is required for various metabolic processes. It also plays an important role in the transport of oxygen in the blood.
Reducing the Symptoms of Rheumatism
Another benefit of green lipped mussel is relieving pain in people suffering from rheumatism. This disease occurs due to swelling in the joints which also causes the joints to become stiff. A number of research has shown that green mussels are beneficial for reducing joint stiffness in people with rheumatism.
Reducing the Symptoms of Osteoarthritis
There are at least 4 studies that observe the effects of green mussels in patients with osteoarthritis. Patients with osteoarthritis will feel pain in the joints due to swelling that arises from the friction between the ends of the bones composing the joints. All studies that have been done reveal that consumption of green mussels as a companion therapy besides osteoarthritis medications can reduce pain and improve joint functions.
Green mussels can also significantly reduce the discomforting effects on the stomach that arise from the use of painkillers commonly given to osteoarthritis patients.
Read also:
How To Prevent Osteoarthritis
Those are the health benefits of green lipped mussels. Green lipped mussel uses are also various. If you want to enjoy those health benefits mentioned above, you can start to add green mussels to your menu. Make sure you cook them totally well in order to get rid of dangerous content or organisms, such as mercury.
Image credits:
- Richard Giddins from London, UK, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Pixabay
