Slimy, slithery and surprisingly good for you. Snails, it seems, are more than just a French fancy
Croissants, fries, garlic – when it comes to food, if it’s good enough for the French, then it’s good enough for us. Snails, on the other hand, are perhaps more of an acquired taste – but don’t be surprised if you spot more of the shelled slimers slithering onto a plate near you soon.
Snails, it seems, have been branded the new star superfood. In fact, they’re so good, high street favourite Cafe Rouge is really going to snail town, with highlights like Ragout D’Escargots, a dish of snails and mushrooms in a rich sauce with truffle oil and a pastry top.
“Cafe Rouge is providing diners with a chance to be adventurous and tap into the growing snail trend, without having to venture too far from home,” says ’snail sommelier’ Helen Howard, who breeds her own award-winning snails. “I really hope more Brits will give snails a go, because they are a fantastic and delicious food, with some serious superfood credentials!”
These include:
Protein
“Although they’re not going to be high on my top 10 list of favourite foods,” admits Healthspan nutritionist Rob Hobson (www.healthspan.co.uk), “snails do provide a low-calorie source of protein unless you drench them in butter!. Protein is essential for building and repairing muscle, and is also better at filling you up than carbs and fat. Many people look to seafood as an easy source of protein, but actually, snails generally contain more.
IRON
Snails are a good source of iron, essential for building red blood cells and carrying energy around the body. A lack of iron can lead to extreme fatigue and anaemia.
VITAMIN B12
Often cited as the ’energy vitamin’, B12 is needed for making red blood cells, keeping the nervous system healthy, releasing energy from the food we eat and processing folic acid. Luckily, snails have lots of it.
MAGNESIUM
They are also a good source of magnesium, which our bodies need to maintain a normal blood pressure, strengthen bones and also keep our heartbeat regular.
SELENIUM
We don’t need much selenium in our bodies, but we do need some to help keep a healthy immune system and protect cells against damage. And yes, snails contain selenium.
OMEGA 3
Ah, the much-feted, heart-loving Omega 3. “Snails also supply a little omega 3,” says Hobson, “which is good news for your heart. “Although, he adds, “they contain nowhere near the levels found in oily fish.“