Benefits of octopus, a mollusk especially rich in ideal nutritional properties in a balanced and healthy diet.
The octopus is a delicious and unique food the less, we can enjoy fresh only in some months of the year, being January indeed one of the most interesting times in this regard.
It consists of a marine and carnivorous mollusk, which we find especially in waters of both temperate and tropical climates, and which is characterized by having a soft body and eight arms, each of which in turn has two rows of suction cups.
It is an ideal food that we can enjoy in the kitchen, thanks to its great versatility. In Spain, for example, the vinaigrette octopus or the popular Galician octopus (accompanied with olive oil, paprika and some salt) is common.
But do you know the different benefits of octopus? The truth is that it is constituted as a healthy food, and outstanding from a nutritional point of view.
Octopus benefits
From a nutritional point of view, the octopus stands out for its very high mineral content, among which we find –especially- zinc, a fundamental nutrient in the maintenance of defenses, in addition to participating in the development and growth of the sexual organs (helping in turn in case of fertility problems in men).
Regarding vitamins, it provides practically the same amount of niacin as oily fish, a nutrient just as essential for energy production.
Unlike other shellfish or mollusks, the octopus stands out for its low cholesterol content. Of course, due to its sodium intake, its consumption is not recommended in case of arterial hypertension.
It is common to make it with paprika, since it facilitates the digestion of its meat, which by the way is difficult for our stomach to digest (it is also useful to boil it accompanied with bay leaf).
Nutritional properties of octopus
Nutritionally speaking, the nutritional properties of octopus are the following:
- Kilocalories: 164
- Carbohydrates: 4.4 g
- Proteins: 29.8 g
- Fat: 2.1 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg
- Glycemic index: 50
- Vitamins: A, E, C, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6 and B12.
- Minerals: calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, zinc, copper, manganese, and selenium.
