What are the differences between a lobster and a crab?
In this brief guide, we’ll address the search query: “What are the differences between a lobster and a crab?” Also, we’ll explore what the nutritional content of lobster is, what the nutritional content of crab meat is, what the health benefits of eating shellfish are, and what are the contraindications of eating shellfish.
What are the differences between a lobster and a crab?
When observing crabs or lobsters in their natural habitats, one can appreciate a large variety of colors and sizes in both. From their appearance, crabs have rounder bodies than lobsters and multiple legs extending out from their main shell.
A lobster, however, has a longer body than a crab. A lobster’s claws are often their tell-tale sign as they can become quite large, thus making them easily identifiable. However, a distinct feature of crabs is the directionality of their walk, which is side-ways.In contrast, a lobster usually moves forward or backward.
As far as taste, they both have characteristic seafood tastes. Still, crab meat tends to be sweeter with a flakier consistency. In contrast, lobster meat is a bit more solid and brinier.
While both are crustaceans; which is to say, they’re arthropods with jointed legs, segmented bodies, five pairs of appendages, two pairs of antennae, and a pair of maxilla and jaws, they belong to different groups of crustaceans, yet both are sourced and used to make delectable dishes.
What is the nutritional content of lobster meat?
On average, a 145-gram portion of cooked lobster provides 128 Kcal, out of which 27 grams are protein, 1.2 are fat and lacks carbohydrates.
Overall, lobster meat is a high source of copper and selenium, as well as Zinc and Vitamin B12, all components linked to the proper functioning of the metabolism and that help promote overall health and reduction of risk chronic degenerative diseases.
What is the nutritional content of crab meat?
A 135g serving of crab meat provides 24g of protein, 1g of fat, no carbohydrates, and contains minerals such as Copper, Iron, Calcium, Potassium, and Sodium. In addition, it is a great source of vitamins such as B2, B6, B12, and folate.
What are the health benefits of eating shellfish?
As mentioned before, the contents of minerals such as Iron, Selenium, and calcium are beneficial for proper metabolism.
The high vitamin contents can boost the nervous system and circulation and are involved in the machinery required for the replication of nucleic acids.
Shellfish are sources of omega-3 fatty acids, previously shown to help reduce the risk of cardiac disease.
What are the contraindications of eating shellfish?
Shellfish is not indicated for people who have high allergic sensitivities Shellfish are among the most common allergens in adults and children. Although the severity of reactions can vary, severe symptoms may include vomiting, diarrhea, swelling, hives, or shortness of breath.
In addition to allergic reactions, shellfish can accumulate high levels of toxic metals such as mercury or cadmium. These metals are often the result of exposure to the environment in which the shellfish develop. As a result, they accumulate in their tissues.
Moreover, humans cannot excrete or metabolize these components, thus leading to severe poisoning, if consumed in excess.
As well as sources of heavy metals, shellfish are also notorious for their involvement in food-borne diseases.
Inadequate refrigeration of shellfish increases the risk of contamination with bacteria and other pathogens that are harmful to humans. Therefore, a proper chain of cooling must always be maintained when dealing with shellfish, and shellfish must always be sourced from reputable suppliers.
We encourage our readers to be mindful of where they procure their shellfish from, and if they suspect their product has spoiled, they should promptly discard it.
Pregnant women, the elderly, young children, immunocompromised patients, and those with shellfish allergies should abstain from indulging in these food types, as a means to avoid complications.
Conclusion
In this brief guide, we’ve addressed the search query: “What are the differences between a lobster and a crab?” Also, we’ve explored what the nutritional content of lobster is, what the nutritional content of crab meat is, what the health benefits of eating shellfish are, and what are the contraindications of eating shellfish.
References
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/lobster-nutrition#nutrition
https://www.nutritionvalue.org/Crab%2C_canned_26305180_nutritional_value.html
