Crab sticks do not have to be added to salads; they can also be eaten using them as snacks. But are they not harmful to the figure, will not the mouth-watering component lead to weight gain? If such questions arise, then it is worthwhile to find out how many calories are in crab sticks and what troubles or, conversely, the benefits for the human body can be fraught with this bright ingredient in many dishes.

The composition and nutritional value of the product

Generally speaking, crab sticks are artificially processed surimi protein or milled, chopped white fish meat. Outwardly, they look like a rolled oblong roll. Packed in 100, 200, and 500 gram packs. One of the most popular brands is Vichy's famous products.

The composition of crab sticks:

  • drinking water;
  • minced fish (surimi);
  • vegetable oil;
  • egg or soy protein;
  • potato starch;
  • salt;
  • regular sugar or sweetener;
  • artificial additives.

As for nutritional value, the average product contains:

  • proteins - 6.8 g;
  • fat - 4.8 g;
  • carbohydrates - 11.7 g.

Additionally, sticks are rich in iodine, iron, nickel, chromium, fluorine and zinc.

Note. All provided product data in other sources may vary slightly, depending on the brand and weight of the sticks.

How many calories in crab sticks

The calorie content of crab sticks directly depends on their condition: frozen or thawed. Of course, an important role is played by the individual composition of the products. Due to a very significant amount of protein, such an ingredient has a small number of calories.

According to average indicators, it is considered that 75–90 kcal per 100 g of the frozen component, and 85–125 kcal in the thawed product.

Calorie is 1 pc. It is about 20-25 kcal.

Can I eat with weight loss

Since crab sticks are a fairly low-calorie product, it is very useful to use them if you want to lose weight. Although often people treat them with caution and distrust, believing that unnatural meat does not contain anything good and beneficial for the body, and even more so it will not help in losing weight. However, this is not entirely true - the crab diet is very real for such purposes.

The principle of such nutrition is to drink 4 tbsp per day. 2.5% kefir and be sure to eat at least 200 g of crab-fish product. And you can also supplement the diet with sour apples, rye bread. It’s good to drink green tea and water. But it is better to exclude coffee for the duration of the diet. But if you really want to, you can afford no more than one cup per day.

It is advisable to sit on such a diet for up to 4 days. And if there is not enough willpower, it is recommended to simply arrange a fasting day on such food. Although crab sticks and a fairly satisfying product, but not everyone can withstand such a program, abandon the harmful temptations and proper nutrition.

However, do not forget that cheap and low-quality seafood for weight loss is extremely undesirable. A similar component can cause significant harm to the body.

Note. For a diet or fasting days it is best to use natural ingredients made from surimi and salt without any extraneous additives in the form of dyes, preservatives, flavorings.

Benefits and harm to the body

Contrary to the popular belief that anything unnatural will not bring anything good, there is still benefit from the use of such products. For example, due to the high content of protein, crab sticks are easily absorbed, and vitamins A, E and PP in their composition are useful for the skin, skeleton, blood vessels, digestive system and human immunity.

But as for how harmful crab sticks are, then there are some nuances. Particular attention should be paid to their composition. You should not be too lazy and read everything that is written on the package. If the composition has a lot of different artificial components, then the purchase should be abandoned.

Unwanted ingredients:

  • flavorings;
  • dyes;
  • flavor enhancers;
  • ingredients with the designation E.

The benefits of eating such food are minimal. In addition, allergic reactions may occur, existing diseases may worsen. Especially such food is contraindicated for people suffering from soy intolerance or negative manifestations on fish.

You should also not take the product with torn, dirty or poorly made packaging. Moreover, you can’t buy sticks by weight, because with such a packing it is almost impossible to find out the composition or manufacturer of the product.

And also it should be borne in mind that, like absolutely any product, crab sticks must be selected very carefully. You must always remember that quality directly affects the price. It is better to spend a large amount, while stopping the attention on proven, previously used products that are not in doubt. If you do not consume them thoughtlessly and in huge quantities, then no harm to health and the body will follow.