Clams As Food: What You Need To Know

Belonging to a group of invertebrates called mollusks, clams are one of the most sustainable seafood. As such, when you consume clams, you are in one way or another making an environment-friendly food choice. One interesting fact about them is that they live in the sand upside down, they have their mouth next to the foot and their bottom at the top. Moreover, they are filter feeders; they feed on planktons and organic materials from the seabed.

Clams are farmed, too. Clam larvae are collected, which are then placed in hatchery tanks until they become juvenile clams. These young clams are moved to a nursery facility, and when they are mature enough, they are placed on subtidal regions of an ocean beach. It is where they burrow until they are ready to be harvested.

There are more than 150 edible species of clam in the world. Popular clam species include palourdes (Manila clams), surf clams, and amandes (dog cockle). Palourdes and surf clams are ideal for steaming, while amandes are great in chowders and stuffings.

You can buy clams in various product forms. For instance, you can get them fresh in the whole form or shellstock, which you can eat them raw or steamed. Or, you can add them to different recipes that require the shells for aesthetic purposes. You can also get them in the half-shell form, which means that the top shell is removed; you can purchase this form fresh or frozen. Shucked clams, which may come whole or chopped, are also available.

If you choose to buy fresh whole clams, see to it that they are alive. How do you know that? Well, live clams’ shells are tightly closed. They will open when cooked.

So what nutritional value will you get from eating clams?

Having a three-ounce serving of steamed clams can give you 22 grams of protein, which is equivalent to 44% of the daily value based on a 2,000-calorie diet. So there are different kinds of food that are great sources of protein, right? Well, the good thing about clams is that the aforementioned serving contains only 126 calories and less than two grams of fat. What does this imply? It shows that clams are a great addition to your diet if you are looking to lose weight.

Have you heard of omega-3 fatty acids? Well, they are the kind of fat that you would want to have in your body. Oily fish like salmon have lots of them, and so do clams. They are known to help keep your heart healthy.

Clams are also very high in iron. How high? Well, beef and liver are high in iron, but clams contain higher levels of iron than them. Iron acts as oxygen carrier from one body cell to another, and deficiency of it can lead to anemia. Other nutrients clams are known to have include vitamin B, calcium, and zinc.

In sum, clams are healthy and sustainable, so you should not feel guilty having them on your plate. For your fresh supply of clams, visit our store.