Dr. Sunil - Is It Bad For You? Approved by Dr. Sunil

Is Escargot Bad For You?

Also Known As: cooked land snail


Grade

A-


Short answer

Escargot is a great source of several vitamins, minerals, and health-promoting chemicals, all of which are extremely beneficial. For optimum nutrition, we recommend substituting the traditional garlic-butter sauce with an olive oil based sauce.

Grade

A-

Recommended Alternative


Long answer

Escargot is the French word used for the less-appetizing sounding "land snail" or Helix pomatia. If you aren't yet a fan of escargot, you may want to give it a try. Not only is it easy to prepare, but it is an overall health booster in a shell. For starters, escargot, which per 100-gram serving contains just 90 calories and two grams of carbohydrates, is an excellent way to lose weight. Preventing obesity also leads to a decreased risk of diabetes, stroke, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Snails also contain a healthy amount of nutrients that help reduce the risk of the aforementioned diseases and more. Selenium and vitamin B-12, both found in plentiful amounts in escargot, help protect and strengthen the immune system. Magnesium, of which 212 mg are found in three ounces of escargot, is linked to lower blood pressure, and a decreased risk of heart disease and cardiovascular afflictions. Vitamin E is good for not just the skin, but the eyes as well, possibly helping to improve the vision of people with uvea inflammation.

Escargot may also help put you in a good mood as it contains the serotonin-stimulating chemical tryptophan. Yet another benefit of escargot is that it contains a low amount of sodium and a healthy amount of potassium. Not only can high amounts of sodium lead to an increased risk of stroke, heart disease, and kidney failure, but potassium also helps to mitigate the negative effects of sodium on the body.

There is 50 mg of cholesterol per 100 g serving, so this may be an issue for those on a low-cholesterol diet. Additionally, eating escargot will not provide you with any fiber, but it will give you a good amount of protein, with about 14 grams being found in just three ounces. Another point to consider is that escargot is often eaten with garlic butter, which adds a decent amount of saturated fat. However, even this can be nullified by substituting extra virgin olive oil.


Possible long-term side effects

  • increased cholesterol

Ingredients to be aware of



Benefits

  • promotes:
  • eye health
  • skin health
  • improved mood
  • weight loss
  • decreased risk of stroke
  • decreased risk of heart disease
  • decreased risk of diabetes
  • decreased blood pressure

Our Wellness Pick (what is this?)

Smoked Oysters in Olive Oil

  • Natural smoke flavor
  • Rich in nutrients
  • Pure olive oil base
  • Convenient 3oz cans
  • Bulk pack of 18
Learn More!



Thank you for your feedback!

Written by Jeff Volling
Published on: 12-29-2015
Last updated: 12-15-2023

Thank you for your feedback!

Written by Jeff Volling
Published on: 12-29-2015
Last updated: 12-15-2023




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