Fresh CLAMS-yummy May 4, 2008

Wednesday we are going out to Cedar Creek Shellfish farms a local fishery.  Mike Sullivan will show us his fields of clams. Living at the beach between the ocean and the intracoastal waterways is an amazing experience. Teeming with life the commitment of the community to maintain the natural beauty and a healthy lifestyle is inspirational.

 

Everyone one at Go Natural is excited about this latest adventure. Everglades Boats a local award winning fishing boat manufacturer whose commitment to building exceptional in shore boats with the excellence of a yacht is unparalleled. http://www.evergladesboats.com/

 

Then we are off to a great local restaurant The Garlic where will will cook these fresh treats in a custom built outdoor, wood burning oven.

 

Nutrition is the net effect of the process by which an organism ingests and uses foods for growth and maintenance of the body. Foods are composed of specific nutrients; protein, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. These nutrients serve as the raw material and energy needed for the body to carry out all of its functions.

 

Nutritional Highlights

Clams (raw), 3 oz. (84.9g)
Calories: 63
Protein: 10.9g
Carbohydrate: 2.2g
Total Fat: 0.8g
Fiber: 0.0g
*Excellent source of: Vitamin B12 (42mcg), and Iron (11.9mg)

Iron is a mineral that is required for our bodies to function properly.  Most of the iron in our body is found in the blood as hemoglobin, which is a protein used to carry oxygen to the body’s tissues.

the aphrodisiac history of clams

In 2005, a study by a group of Italian and American scientists released the findings that amino acids found in bivalves, (oysters, mussels and scallops included), has the potential to raise sexual hormone levels. (The study was conducted on a Mediterranean species of mussels and demonstrated that these aminos, D-aspartic acid and N-methyl-D-aspartic acid, induced sexual hormone production in rats.) No follow-up studies measured the impact on humans, but the news was certainly encouraging to seafood lovers the world over!

SEAFOOD		RATING	MARKET NAMES	WHERE CAUGHT	HOW CAUGHT
Atlantic Surf Clams				U.S. Atlantic Ocean	Wild-Caught
Clams			Steamers, Littlenecks, Cockles	Worldwide	Farmed
Hard Clams			Littleneck, Cherrystone, Chowder	U.S. Atlantic Ocean	Wild-Caught
Ocean Quahog Clams			Quahag, Black clam	U.S. Atlantic Ocean	Wild-Caught
Softshell/Steamers Clams			Steamer, Longneck, Fryer	U.S. Atlantic Ocean	Wild-Caught
	Clams are farmed in an environmentally responsible way. Farmed clams are available year-round, but fresh clams may be limited in specific regions for food safety reasons. Clams are served cooked in or out of the shell, are available fresh or frozen, and can also be used in sushi. Summary Clams have a broad, worldwide distribution and are cultured in many countries. Their popularity exceeds the supply harvested from the sea, so farmed clams today account for 89 percent of world clam consumption. The majority of farmed clams consumed in the United States are farmed here, with most imports coming from Canada. Aquaculture production is well-managed and has a low impact on the environment. As with oysters, mussels and other bivalves, these filter-feeders can actually have a positive benefit by clearing tiny particles and debris from the surrounding water. Only in cases where clams are cultivated at polluted sites is the accumulation of toxins a concern. Generally clams are cultured on the seafloor and when hand-harvested do not result in any environmental disturbance. Sometimes harvesting by dredging is a concern since it can disrupt the seabed; however the effects are typically short-lived and can be restored. For that reason, clams harvested without the use of mechanical dredges are the best option.