Among the many culinary treasures that seafood presents, one of the most delightful offerings is scallops. Best described as sweet and buttery, scallops also have a distinct but subtle briny flavor – reflecting the scent of ocean water. In fact, the brininess is a prime indicator of freshly caught and cooked scallops.

There’s no doubt that scallops are simply delicious, but that’s not the only good reason to enjoy fresh scallops. Did you know that they are also packed with amazing nutrients? There are a lot of health benefits to eating scallops, and we’re here to highlight a few.

What Makes Scallop a Healthy Delicacy?

The main health benefits of scallops lie in their nutritional value. As per the U.S Department of Agriculture, 100 grams of scallops, when steamed or boiled, contains the following nutrients:

Calories: 137 kcal

Scallops have a moderate calorie count. In addition, due to their rich flavor, scallops are best enjoyed in small portions. So you can include a little salmon in your diet now and then without worrying about your calorie intake.

Protein: 24g

Like most shellfish, scallops are also rich in protein, making them the perfect option for people seeking to gain a healthy weight and increase muscle mass. The protein in scallops also includes trace amounts of taurine, and the fact that they are low in calories but high in protein means that they can be a great addition to your weight-loss diet.

Omega-3 fatty acids: 205 mg

Scallops are a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids. They improve cardiac health, preventing strokes and heart attacks, maintaining blood pressure, and lowering cholesterol levels. Overall, they can help to reduce the possibility of cardiac problems.

Vitamin B12: 2.53 µg

Vitamin B12 is essential for brain development, nerve cells, and the regular production of RBCs. The daily requirement of vitamin B12 for adults is 1.5 µg daily, and 100g of scallops alone provides way more than that amount. So if you want to increase your vitamin B12 intake, it’s about time you include scallops into your diet.

Minerals

Scallops contain substantial minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, phosphorus, selenium, copper, and zinc. They are all important minerals that play key roles in our bodily functions.

Calcium promotes healthy bones and joints.

Magnesium is a multipurpose nutrient that improves muscular as well as cardiac health.

Iron is needed for the formation of RBCs.

Potassium is crucial to maintaining nerve functions and muscular contractions, especially the cardiac muscles regulating heartbeat.

Phosphorus helps in the proper growth of bones and teeth.

Selenium is an important part of different proteins and enzymes used in DNA formation, and some protect the cells and prevent infections.

Copper also has multiple functions, such as energy production, iron metabolism, brain, and nervous system development, and boosting the body’s immune system.

Zinc is also important for the immune system and improves healing and cellular regeneration.

Among all these minerals, phosphorus and potassium are found in larger quantities in scallops. All in all, scallops are packed with all these precious minerals, offering multiple health benefits.

Low fat

Scallops are not just low in calories and cholesterol, but also low in most unhealthy saturated fats, so they’re great for weight management. Whether you’re looking to gain or lose weight, scallops can be an excellent part of your regular diet.

Having said that, you should also factor in the cooking method for salmon. For example, searing salmons in butter will increase the fat percentage of the dish. It’s much healthier to prepare boiled or steamed salmon. Even if fried or seared, it should be done in low quantities of oil or butter.

Considering all these benefits, it’s amazing to realize that scallops are not just a treat for the taste buds but also a super healthy, nutrient-packed meal.

On the one hand, you get to enjoy the smooth, creamy, briny flavor of scallops which is an absolute delight. And on the other hand, even your body benefits from all the nutrition. It’s truly a remarkable combination of taste and health.

At PRIME Steak & Seafood, you can experience the delicacy of fresh salmon, prepared to perfection by our expert chefs. We ensure that the salmon retains its natural flavor while being complemented by additional elements so that you can enjoy the best seafood dining. Whether it’s scallops that you’re craving or some of the best premium steaks in McAllen, PRIME is the place where you can find it all to your heart’s desire. Drop by our restaurant for a fine dining experience, or contact us for more information.