Squid is high in antioxidants
In some cultures, squid is seen as a cancer preventative due to the antioxidants found in it. Antioxidants help to fight free radicals in the body, increasing the efficiency of our cells and strength in fighting off cancer. The number of white blood cells also increases when we take in antioxidants.
Fights anemia
One of the key minerals in squid is copper. Consumed regularly, this mineral fights against a disease known as anemia which is caused by a lack of blood cells. This can make squid a potentially lifesaving food to include in your regular diet.
How squid came to be food
Squid is used in Vietnamese cuisine as well as many others, sometimes referred to under the customary culinary name ‘calamari’. It’s long been consumed as a food, believing to have originated somewhere in the Mediterranean. These days, squid’s a part of traditional Mediterranean eating as well as appears in some African, Australian, and East Asian dishes.
As it relates to how squid came to Vietnam, a lot of dishes created in our ethnic cuisine work on balance. This means that they oftentimes contain ingredients which are meant to balance out other ingredients. A protein source is almost always included, whether it’s a spring roll, bowl of Vietnamese pho, stir fry, or whatever the case. As eating in Vietnam evolved, a lot of families and/or street vendors would have to use what was available to them. Squid in the seas was a healthy protein source abundant and it worked!
As you visit Vietnamese restaurants in Toronto and other cities across Canada, you may come across fish like squid. If you haven’t had squid before, especially once it’s blended in with a Vietnamese recipe with all those tastes and spices, it’s likely to taste just like any other meat. Squid’s extremely healthy as mentioned above and can be cooked in so many different ways. This diversity is what makes squid a go-to protein source for us. As consumer tastes have moved towards healthier eating, squid continues to be a requested ingredient in stir fry dishes, noodle dishes, rice dishes, and more.
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