Crabs are a delicious, popular option on most seafood menus. Part of this is because crab is versatile: chefs can fry it, steam it, bake it, and broil it to perfection. Thankfully, given its popularity, eating it has many health benefits, both physical and mental. Below, you’ll find three of them.

Why Eating Crab Is Healthy for You

1. Boosts Cognition

Eating crab can provide you with a wide range of nutrients that can help boost your cognition. These nutrients include omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B12, copper, and selenium, all of which have proven cognitive benefits. These benefits include a reduced cognitive decline in the elderly and enhanced memory performance.

2. Protects the Heart

Crabs, like most seafood, contain significant amounts of omega-3 fatty acids. This is beneficial because omega-3 fatty acids are essential to heart health. They’ve been found to reduce blood pressure, blood clotting, irregular heartbeats, and the risk of stroke and heart failure. It’s generally recommended that most people consume anywhere from 200-500 milligrams of omega-3 fatty acids per day. Eating crab can help you meet that recommendation with relative ease—just 3 ounces of crab meat contains 351 milligrams of omega-3 fatty acids.

3. Strengthens Bones

Phosphorous is the second most common mineral found in the human body, after calcium. Its primary function is to facilitate the formation of bones and teeth. But while it’s well known that calcium is essential for keeping bones thick and strong, phosphorus also plays a vital role. In fact, studies show that calcium is actually ineffective if not paired with enough phosphorous. Luckily for crab-lovers, crabs have high phosphorus concentrations, so next time you’re at a seafood restaurant, order crab to support your bone health.

If you want to reap the many benefits of eating crabs, check out Lolo’s Seafood Shack in Harlem, Manhattan. Whether you’re craving steamed snow crab or a soft-shelled crab sandwich, their menu will satisfy your taste buds. This restaurant also hosts daily happy hours from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. that include a short tasting menu with hand-crafted cocktails. To make a reservation, call (646) 649-3356 or visit them online to browse their menu.