Top 5 seafood that are hard to seek in Malaysia market.
Deep sea cucumber.
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Sea cucumbers are one of the dominant sea-floor groups all
over the world in the deep ocean. However, sea cucumbers can be found on the
sea floor worldwide. They are marine animals with a leathery skin and an
elongated body containing a single, branched gonad. The common sea cucumber
species are the holothurian species which
could be found worldwide and with about 1250 just being in the Asia Pacific
region. As for the deep sea species, Laetmogone violacea is one of a large
number of species that crawl over the dark, soft, muddy ocean bottom eating
organic detritus. The deep-sea cucumber's peglike “legs” help to keep it from
sinking into the mud. Like many deep-sea animals, the deep-sea cucumber is
almost colorless but glows all over with bioluminescent light to scare the predators’
away or self defense. Sea cucumber are able to shoot up their internal organ
such as intestine when threaten which can be regenerate in no time at all.
sea cucumber self defend
Sea cucumbers serve a useful purpose in the marine ecosystem
as they help recycle nutrients, breaking down detritus and other organic matter
after which bacteria can continue the degradation process. Furthermore, health
benefits of sea cucumbers have been studied by scientist worldwide showing
positive sign. Research conducted by several universities for the past 8 years showed
that sea cucumber can enhance blood circulation, prevent clogging of cholesterol
in the blood vessels, launched renal function, increase level or metabolism,
help arthritis, diabetes mellitus and hypertension as well as accelerate the
healing of wounds, both external wounds and injuries. Based on the results of
research at various universities around the world sea cucumber contains lots of fatty acids that
are great for wound healing, such as palmitic, oleic, and stearic,
and many more. In addition sea cucumber are also high in vitamins A, B’s, calcium and iron. Sea Cucumber is great
for gum diseases which are proven on a 3 month study in which those that using
Sea Cucumber toothpaste healed much faster from gum disease than those who did
not use Sea Cucumber toothpaste.
In Asia, Sea Cucumber is used for
impotence, kidney and reproductive problems and in the states Sea Cucumber is
used in cosmetics because of it’s great skin healing qualities. Sea Cucumber is
very high in protein… even higher than egg whites and studies show that upping
your intake of protein can lead to a lowering of cardiovascular disease. Sea Cucumber eggs are very high in protein too and
considered a great delicacy in Asia.Sea Cucumber is also a good antibiotic and
anti-inflammatory agent.
Sea cucumber is a one of the premium delicacy in Asia and are able to fetch a high price at China, Malaysia and Singapore depending on the sea cucumber quality and grade. Although sea cucumber is flavorless like tofu, it has an uncanny ability to soak up flavors and seasonings. At Malaysia, you can get your preferred choice fresh sea cucumber including the vegetarian variety at here.
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Lobsters.
Lobster was not always considered a delicacy, but was once
considered a poor man's food. Because it was so plentiful, Native Americans
used lobsters to fertilize their land. Indentured servants had it written into
their contract that they had to eat lobster three times a week. Lobsters are
found in all oceans. They live on rocky, sandy, or muddy bottoms from the
shoreline to beyond the edge of the continental shelf. They generally live
singly in crevices or in burrows under rocks.
Lobsters are omnivores and typically eat live prey such as
fish, mollusks, other crustaceans, worms, and some plant life. They scavenge if
necessary, and may resort to cannibalism in captivity; however, this has not
been observed in the wild.
Although lobster skin has been found in lobster
stomachs, this is because lobsters eat their shed skin after molting. Female
lobsters carry their eggs under their abdomens for up to a year before
releasing them as larvae into the water. The larvae go through several stages
in the water column, when the lobster is about 15 days to a month old, it
begins to look for a place at the bottom of the ocean where it can settle and
eat. Lobsters prefer a hard bottom with plenty of hiding places. For the next
four years, the lobster hides, eating small prey, because it has many enemies
and codfish being the biggest.
Lobsters must shed their shells in order to grow, and some
species can live to be 50 years old or more, growing continually throughout
their lives. In general, lobsters are 25–50 centimeters (10–20 in) long, and
move by slowly walking on the sea floor. However, when they escaping from
danger, they swim backwards quickly by curling and uncurling their abdomen. A
speed of 5 meters per second (11 mph) has been recorded. When purchasing
lobster, you can choose between a soft-shell and hard-shelled variety.
Hard-shelled lobsters have not shed their shell yet.
As an expensive delicacy, a lobster must be cooked alive. Some
people might think that it's cruel to cook a lobster alive. However, the
lobster's brain is extremely small and it is lacks of central nervous system. Thus,
by the time the lobster is put into the water, there is no time for it to
process pain before it dies. The reason why lobsters must be cooked alive is
because the bacteria will enter the meat quickly destroying it unless it is
frozen immediately or pre-cooked. Frozen and fresh lobsters are able to obtain
at here. There really is no other option, and it’s for your own safety. Never
eat a cooked lobster that has a curled tail. That means the lobster died before
it was cooked.
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Moreover if you think lobster is unhealthy, then think again. Lobsters are low in
fat content, making them one of the best choices for health conscious people.
The high content of protein makes this food beneficial, especially for
athletes. Lobsters are low in cholesterol and thereby, they assist in
maintaining triglyceride levels in the body and keeping the heart healthy.Like
other seafood, lobsters are also a good source of omega 3-fatty acids that are
essential for the proper functioning of the heart, brain and lowering the risk
of arrhythmias, which can lead to sudden cardiac deaths.
Furthermore, the
compounds in lobsters facilitate in reducing the growth rate of atherosclerotic
plaque and lowering the blood pressure. Lobster can be very effective in
preventing various health disorders such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis,
rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular disease, colon cancer and chronic
conditions involving bone, connective tissue, heart and blood vessels. Zinc, Phosphorus,
B12 are found plenty in lobster, whereas lobsters possess the trace element,
selenium, which is beneficial for triggering the activity of thyroid glands as
well as the immune system. Selenium is known to protect the body cells against
free radicals during the process of metabolism, apart from monitoring the
oxidation of cholesterol to prevent coronary artery disease.
Cod Fish
Cod is popular as a food with a mild flavor and a dense,
flaky white flesh. Cod livers are processed to make cod liver oil, an important
source of vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and
DHA). Young Atlantic cod or haddock prepared in strips for cooking is called
scrod. In the United Kingdom, Atlantic cod is one of the most common
ingredients in fish and chips, along with haddock and plaice. It is also
frequently consumed in Portugal, Spain, Italy, France, and Brazil. Cod flesh is
moist and flaky when cooked and is white in color.
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Abalone.
Abalone belongs to the phylum Mollusca, a group which
includes clams, scallops, sea slugs, octopuses and squid. They have a soft body
surrounded by a mantle, an anterior head and a large muscular foot. In other
words, abalones are edible sea-snail which come in vary sizes, in which the
small one are called baby abalone and some are quite big in size. Abalone meat is could be eaten raw, which is
normally taken that way by the Japanese. However abalone could be braised, BBQ
at grill, soup or cook in any way you like. The most common cooking method in
Malaysia however is braised abalone with oyster sauce which is only enjoyed as
a delicacy on special occasion by the Chinese community.
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Abalone is quite high
in cholesterol, which if you have cholesterol problem I would advise you not to
eat them too regularly. However abalone done have positive health benefits as
well. Abalone is high in vitamin A, iron, pantotenic acid, omega 3 and omega 6.
And for those who want to packed on muscle mass, abalone having 20 grams of
protein at 100 grams serving is right off the bat as you enjoying a delicious
meal while piling up your muscle. Moreover, with the vitamin E zinc and magnesium
it would give your testosterone a boost as well and sex drive a boost up.
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Salmon
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Salmon is not very uncommon to see in Malaysia wet market. However it
can be hard to find depending on the seasons. It is available plentiful in the
bigger hypermarket in which majority of the customers are middle or high income
earner. Salmon price is not as steep at abalone, cod fish, sea cucumber and lobsters
but it is not one of the cheapest fish in Malaysia market at well. Salmon is
considered one of the cheapest luxurious foods in Malaysia and you can often
see it in the menu of middle - high end restaurant only. While salmon are
regarded in Chinese belief that it represent continue conquest and prosperity.
As salmon is transalate into Chinese as “up” which mean keep going up to find
one success.
Not only in Chinese community that salmon have a positive
iconic meaning or symbol. In ancient Celtic the symbolic meaning of fish (salmon,
specifically) dealt with knowledge, wisdom, inspiration and prophecy. Ancient
Celts believed the salmon derived its wisdom from consuming the sacred hazel
nuts from the well of knowledge (Segais).In addition, they believed to eat the
salmon would mean gaining the wisdom of the well too. I could say that the
ancient Celts aren’t wrong at all; salmon have indeed proven in modern day sciences
that the Omega-3 available in salmon does indeed increase your brain functions
and stay sharp.
Furthermore in Norse and ancient European cultures, the fish
had symbolic meanings of adaptability, determination, and the flow of life. It
was observed by these cultures that fish often display enormous attributes of
adaptability in the wild, and they adopted these characteristics for
themselves. Salmon were commonly revered for their determination in their
annual pilgrimage to their spawning grounds as the salmon swum against the
current for the entire journey. To get your fresh frozen salmon in Malaysia online, you could get it here.