Whelk Benefits, Calories, Protein, Storage Instructions

Whelk Nutrition

A whelk is a whelk-like creature that lives in water. The most commonly known whelks are white whelk and black whelk. Whelk that can be canned is mostly made from large-bodied snails or black whelks. More than 90% of the world’s food is consumed in Korea for edible purposes. It has a chewy and light taste, so it is popular as a side dish for drinks in Korea. When a whelk crawls, it leaves mucus behind in its wake. A whelk that secretes a lot of mucus is a fresh whelk.

Whelk Benefits

1. Eye Health

Whelk contains vitamins and an ingredient called taurine. The vitamin contained in whelk is vitamin A, which is good for eye health as it relieves eye fatigue and protects vision. It is also effective in preventing eye diseases such as night blindness, contributing to eye health. Taurine is a necessary ingredient for the retina to function properly. Therefore, it is effective in protecting the retina and preventing eye aging.

2. Skin Health

Whelk contains zinc. Zinc is an essential nutrient for healthy skin. Zinc helps skin regeneration and is effective in relieving inflammatory skin diseases such as blemishes and eczema, thereby contributing to skin health. Additionally, whelk contains mucilage hischin, which is effective for skin health by suppressing aging and helping to give skin elasticity.

3. Weight management

Whelk is a food that is high in protein but low in calories. It has a low fat content, low calories, and is rich in unsaturated fatty acids. And when you consume whelk, you can easily feel full, which is helpful for people who are losing weight.

4. Muscle building

Likewise, the rich nutrients and protein in whelk can help build muscle for those who exercise. Additionally, vitamins B and E help the body absorb various nutrients, allowing the body to synthesize more muscles.

5. Brain Health

Whelk is rich in iron. Iron plays a role in transporting oxygen throughout the body, including the brain, so it helps supply oxygen to the brain. This ultimately affects brain development. Whelk also contains taurine, which also helps with brain health. Taurine has the function of suppressing harmful proteins that are considered the cause of brain diseases, preventing memory decline and helping prevent brain diseases such as dementia.

Storage method

1. Raw Whelk washes the essence under running water and removes foreign substances.
2. Boil in a large pot for about 10 minutes and cool.
3. Store in an airtight container and refrigerate at a temperature below 4℃.

Side Effect

1. Vomiting and fever – If ingested without removing the whelk’s salivary glands, side effects such as vomiting and fever may occur.
2. Diarrhea and abdominal pain – Depending on your constitution, excessive intake may cause diarrhea or abdominal pain.
3. Beware of toxicity – Whelk is often distributed as canned food. Canned whelk may contain carcinogens such as furan and bisbenol A, so caution should be taken when consuming it.

References

🔹WebMD: What Are the Health Benefits of Whelks?🔹Health Benefits Times: Whelk Facts, Health Benefits and Nutritional Value