Gambas is a dish made primarily with seafood, olive oil, and spices, and is known as a healthy dish from Spain.

 

When making gambas, pour olive oil into a pan and heat it over low heat with garlic, chili, and other ingredients. Then add prepared cherry tomatoes and shrimp to cook. Gambas is especially delicious when served with baguette and is popular in Korea as well. However, making gambas involves a lot of oil. Why is it still considered a healthy dish despite the high oil content?

 

All the ingredients used in gambas are healthy ingredients. In particular, olive oil is mostly unsaturated fat, and it is an essential part of the Mediterranean diet, which is known as a "longevity diet."

 

Saturated fats can clog blood vessels when consumed excessively, but unsaturated fats, on the other hand, help to open blocked arteries. There is also a study from the University of Edinburgh in the UK indicating that the unsaturated fats in olive oil inhibit the formation of carcinogenic proteins.

Garlic is also rich in minerals, containing about 356 to 705 mg per 100g. The minerals in garlic, such as potassium, phosphorus, and calcium, help build bones and teeth in the body and assist in maintaining blood pressure. Garlic also contains a small amount of riboflavin, which belongs to the B vitamin group. Riboflavin is a nutrient beneficial for maintaining immunity and relieving fatigue. Additionally, garlic contains allicin, which has sterilizing and antibacterial effects, making it effective in preventing infectious diseases such as colds. In fact, a study conducted in the UK with 146 adults found that those who consumed garlic extract for 12 weeks had about a 64% lower chance of catching a cold compared to those who did not.

 

However, caution is needed when making gambas with store-bought meal kits, as they may contain high levels of sodium. In December 2022, the Seoul Metropolitan Institute of Health and Environment investigated the sodium content of four types of meal kits, including budae jjigae, bulgogi jeongol, jjampong, and gambas, among 100 products with high consumer preference. The results showed that over half, 51 products, exceeded the World Health Organization (WHO) daily limit of 2,000 mg of sodium. Consuming just one serving can surpass the daily sodium intake limit. When purchasing gambas meal kits, it is advisable to look for products with nutrition labels and choose those with the lowest sodium and fat content.

 

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These days, it's the peak season.

Gambas, I really crave it from the morning haha

 

Let's stop eating baguettes.

 

Saturated fats can clog blood vessels if consumed excessively, but

Unsaturated fatty acids help to unblock clogged arteries.

 

Because of this, the oil for gambas is very greasy.

It's okay to eat it.