Health benefits derived from Crab Meat !

[Extracted from the page of http://lifestyle.iloveindia.com]

Crab is a popular seafood, which has many varieties, such as blue crabs, Dungeness crabs, king crabs, stone crab and red crab. Each crab species has a different taste.  Blue crabs are small crustaceans that are found along the Atlantic coast. They are mainly valued for their soft shell phase, when they can be eaten along with the shells. Dungeness crabs are large and meaty and are found in large quantities on the Atlantic coast. King crabs are the ones that have most of the meat in their legs, rather than claws. Stone crabs, found in Florida and Texas, are sold fresh, in cooked form and frozen as well. Red crabs, found along the continental shelf are small in size and meaty. Irrespective of the variety, crabs are rich in a range of minerals and vitamins and are healthy for the body on the whole.

Nutrients	Amount
Protein	17 gm
Calories
Total Calories	87
Calories From Fat	14
Fats & Fatty Acids
Total Fat	1.5 gm
Saturated Fat	0.2 gm
Monounsaturated Fat	0.2 gm
Polyunsaturated Fat	0.6 gm
Minerals
Sodium	237 mg
Potassium	235 mg

Nutritional value 

• Due to being very low in calories and fat, crabs are healthy for heart. Despite of their low calorie content, crabs make for a filling main course dish. A four ounce serving of crab meat contains only 98 calories and under two grams of fat.
  
• Crabs are a very rich source of lean protein, which makes them a perfect high protein alternative for athletes, sportsperson and body builders. They are also a good option for diabetics, as they are free of carbohydrates.
  
  
  
  
  
• Crabs are a good source of Omega-3 fatty acids, which are necessary for heart health and help to lower triglycerides and blood pressure, thereby reducing the risk of heart disease. The Omega-3 fatty acids contained in crabs are also believed to boost the immune system.
  
• Eating a seafood rich diet can expose the body to high amounts of mercury. However, mid-Atlantic blue crab contains a very low amount of mercury, which makes it a safer seafood choice. 
  
• Crabs are a good source of chromium, which helps in the metabolism of sugar. It helps the body to maintain normal blood glucose levels. Chromium basically works with insulin to regulate the sugar levels of body.
  
• Crabs contain selenium, a trace mineral that helps to reduce oxidative damage to the cells and tissues. A diet containing crabs provides enough selenium to the body to keep these systems functioning. 
  
• Crab meat is a rich source of vitamins and mineral, especially of Vitamin B 12, one of the vitamins that are critical for healthy nerve function. Also, it is a good source of minerals, such as zinc and copper.