Written by Dr. Sanjana V.B Bhms,dbrm,cdn

Founder & medical director of siahmsr wellness.in

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Reviewed by SIAHMSR medical team.

Health benefits of eating mussels

   Mussel is the common term for members of several families of freshwater and marine bivalve mollusks.[Mussel of the marine family -Mytilidae and the freshwater family -Unionidae]

    Mussels often occur in dense clusters, burrowing into soft mud or wood. Mussels attach to the rocks or objects or cling to one another by proteinaceous threads called byssus threads; the mussel's external shell is composed of two halves that protect it from predators and desiccation. Protruding from a valve is an enlarged structure called the umbo, which indicates the dorsal surface of the mussel.

    Mussels have a plane of symmetry between the shells, and use adductor muscles to hold the two shells closed and open them by means of an external or internal ligament once the adductor muscles are relaxed. Like most bivalves, mussels have a large organ referred to as a foot. In freshwater mussels, the foot is large, in marine mussels , the foot is smaller, tongue-like in shape.

Nutritional value :

Vitamins

Vitamin B12: 24 mcg (1000% DV)

Riboflavin (B2): 0.42 mg (32% DV)

Thiamin (B1): 0.30 mg (25% DV)

Folate: 76 mcg (19% DV)

Niacin (B3): 3.0 mg (19% DV)

Pantothenic acid (B5): 0.95 mg (19% DV)

Vitamin C: 13.60 mg (15% DV)

Choline: 65 mg (12% DV)

Vitamin A: 91 mcg RAE (10% DV)

Vitamin E: 1.10 mg (7% DV)

Vitamin B6: 0.10 mg (6% DV)

Minerals

Manganese: 6.80 mg (296% DV)

Selenium: 89.60 mcg (163% DV)

Iron: 6.72 mg (37% DV)

Zinc: 2.67 mg (24% DV)

Phosphorus: 285 mg (23% DV)

Copper: 0.15 mg (17% DV)

Sodium: 369 mg (16% DV)

Magnesium: 37 mg (9% DV)

Potassium: 268 mg (6% DV)

Calcium: 33 mg (3% DV

Nutritional facts

Mussels are low in calories and fat.

They are excellent source of omega 3 fats which are very essential for heart and brain health.

Omega 3 fatty acids are important for brain development in children. It can improve cognition and memory in adults, particularly in elderly.

Mussels are a good source of proteins and vitamin B12.

Vitamin B12 is very important for the proper functioning of nervous system and circulatory system. Vitamin B12 is also important for cardiovascular system as the deficiency of vitamin B12 may cause homocysteine accumulation, which may eventually cause heart attack and stroke. Vitamin B12 deficiency is also cause depression and pernicious anaemia.

Mussels  provide large amounts of manganese, selenium, iron, zinc, and phosphorus.Like other seafood mussels also are a rich source of the mineral selenium which is very vital for your skin health, proper functioning of thyroid and immunity.

Mussels are good source of manganese also. Mussels provide 5.8mg/servings   of manganese. Manganese is a cofactor for various enzymes, such as manganese superoxide dismutase, arginase, and pyruvate carboxylase . Through the action of these enzymes, manganese is involved in amino acid, cholesterol, glucose, and carbohydrate metabolism; it also help fight against free radicals, bone formation, reproduction, and immune response. Manganese also help in blood clotting and hemostasis in conjunction with vitamin K.

Commercial uses

Mussels are available fresh, smoked, canned and even frozen. Freshwater mussels are found all over the world with the exception of polar regions. Freshwater mussels mostly live burrowed in sand and gravel in streams and rivers, a few also in quiet and muddy waters of lakes, ponds.

 Marine mussels are found in abundance in the low and mid-intertidal zone in temperate seas of the northern and southern hemispheres.

Mussels are edible and gathered from deep waters with dredges or rakes. The blue mussel, Mytilus edulis  are important as food in Europe and other parts of the world and are raised commercially. M. edulis, which attains lengths of up to 11 cm and is usually blue or purple, has been cultivated in Europe since the 13th century.

Commercially and aesthetically, mussels have gained significance globally as they are delicious food for humans and also used for the production of pearls. Pearls are produced both directly via freshwater pearls and indirectly in stimulating production of pearls from oysters.

How to consume mussels?

Mussels  are important food  chosen by seafood consuming groups and non vegetarians.Mussels can be eaten in smoked, boiled or steamed forms. As for all shellfish, mussels should be alive just before they are cooked as they quickly become toxic after the death. The mussel shells open by themselves when cooked.

Are mussels safe to consume? 

Fresh and cooked muscles are edible mostly. However, mussel poisoning due to toxic planktonic organisms is a potential danger along some coastlines. For instance, mussels should be avoided along the west coast of the United States during the warmer months. This is usually caused by dinoflagellates creating elevated levels of toxins in the water that do not harm the mussels, but if consumed by humans can bring on illness. Usually the United States government monitors the levels of toxins throughout the year at fishing sites.

References

1.    https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Mussel

2.    https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Manganese-HealthProfessional/#:~:text=Through%20the%20action%20of%20these,with%20vitamin%20K%20%5B5%5D.

3.    https://www.nutritionadvance.com/mussels-nutrition-benefits/