Land snails: good and healthy
With firm and compact flesh, land snails have a delicate flavor, vaguely reminiscent of mushrooms. But above all, they are very good for your health!
If just hearing about eating snails your first reaction is to turn up your nose, it is only because their use in the kitchen has significantly decreased in recent decades. Yet land snails, whose real name is snails, have been part of the diet of our ancestors for a long time and, even if they are never mentioned, they are a full part of the Mediterranean Diet.
Although they are no longer the main dish of parties and banquets as they did in the past, today our country boasts 870 manufacturing companies, which produce about 44,000 tons of snails a year. Of course, it must be said that for the most part they are used in the pharmaceutical sector due to their therapeutic properties, but this is not a good reason to exclude them from your kitchen.
Because in addition to giving off a delicate taste, which goes perfectly with all types of food and condiments, snails contribute to your well-being and beauty.
Snails to eat: nutritional values
Land snails are always present in the books on which our gastronomic culture is based: on "Science in the kitchen and the art of eating well" by Pellegrino Artusi or on the famous "Silver spoon", you will find dozens of recipes different to prepare succulent dishes based on snails. And you will really want to try them, because in addition to being very tasty, snails are very good for your health.
Rich in protein, vitamins, Omega 3 and minerals, their meats are incredibly lean, making them ideal for low-calorie diets. Obviously we only talk about their meat, net, therefore, of any seasonings, but in consideration of the fact that almost all recipes of Italian cuisine require the use of only olive oil, they remain a decidedly dietary dish. On the contrary, the French, who call them escargot, use large quantities of butter, dramatically increasing the number of calories in the dishes.
But when can snails be eaten? Usually in winter, between October and April, and before proceeding with cooking, it is always essential to purge them, to clean them of faeces and drool. Also, remember that to buy snails to eat, you will always want to go to certified producers: collecting snails after a storm can be very suggestive, but you never know what they ate during their life. Avoid all risks by eating only farmed snails.
The therapeutic properties of land snails
Eating snails is not just a way to learn more about our ancient culinary traditions and feel a bit like a noble of the old days, when the dishes based on this curious animal appeared during the most important banquets. Today is a surefire way to guarantee yourself undeniable health benefits.
As a result of the moderate intake of Omega 3 fatty acids, in fact, eating snails helps reduce cardiovascular risk factors, fighting high cholesterol and hypertension. Furthermore, being a good source of Vitamin B12, snails fight fatigue and support neurological function.
A 2018 study even found that the meat of land snails has antioxidant properties, which could prove to be valuable allies in the prevention of colon cancer. But the properties of snails do not end there, because they will also be useful for your beauty.
Snail slime in cosmetics
Are you amazed? Instead it is so! If snail slime is what you need to remove from snails before eating them, it is what many beauty products rely on. This mucous secretion, in fact, is rich in glycolic acid, elastin, collagen and vitamins, all substances that contribute to the well-being of the skin.
Snail slime products can be considered complete treatments. If glycolic acid, in fact, allows you to gently exfoliate the superficial layers of the skin, the elastin and collagen help to keep the tissues elastic and hydrated, fighting the formation of wrinkles and expression lines.
Don't you think that all this could represent one more reason to overcome your atavistic repulsion towards these precious little animals?
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