Health Benefits and Side Effects Of Snake Meat

Snake meat is a delicacy in several parts of the world owing to its nutritional value. In China, there are several recipes for snake meat preparation, it is also highly sought after for its medicinal benefits. Snake meat is rich in nutrients and contains a lot of protein and fat. It also contains carbohydrates and calcium, phosphorus, iron, other salts, and vitamins A, vitamins B1, and vitamins B2. Snake meat provides approximately 93 calories per 100g (3.5 oz) of raw meat, depending on the type of snake. This is roughly half the calories and one third the amount of fat of a similar amount of sirloin beef steak. Fewer calories and less fat content for the same weight of meat can aid dieters in controlling their weight.

Over the years, the indiscriminate killing and consumption of snakes and their eggs have been on the rise. The haphazard consumption of snakes could have huge medical consequences, some of which could be sometimes deadly. In Africa and Nigeria, it is increasingly becoming a common practice for locals to kill and immediately consume snakes no matter the species without recourse to health consequences and hygiene. See The Health Benefits Of African Food

Dead or live snakes are potent killers, around 100,000 people are killed each year by snakes. Scientist estimates that between 1.2 million and 5.5 million snake bites occur annually.

The dangers and side effects of consuming snake meat

Risk of Being Killed by Residual Venom

There is always the danger of consuming snake venom, especially from undercooked or raw snake meat. Eating such inappropriately prepared snake meals can result in serious medical complications.

The danger of Pricks from Poisonous or Venom Contaminated Bones

The network of snake bones is very extensive and preparing snake meat is an art that many have not mastered. The bone of many snake species could still be poisonous from contamination even after death. This makes handling snake meat by an inexperienced cook very dangerous.

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The danger of Bite Even After Death

The reflexive action of the nervous system of many snake species allows them to bite and inject venom even after death. This unimaginable feat is common in snakes like Cobras and Rattlesnakes. Recently, a chef was killed while he was preparing a dish from cobra flesh. He was bitten by the snake’s head twenty minutes after it was cut off. According to reports, the victim Mr. Peng Fan was making a special dish from the meat of an Indochinese spitting Cobra, a rare delicacy in Asia, where eating snakes is a way of life.

Microbiological and a Heavy Metal contamination

Eating reptiles can pose serious health challenges as a result of the presence of parasites, bacteria, viruses, and heavy metals. A study published in the International Journal of Food Microbiology revealed that eating reptiles such as snakes can result in Trichinosis, Pentastomiasis, Gnathostomiasis, and Sparganosis. According to Simone Magnino, the lead author of the study and a researcher for the World Health Organization (WHO), the greatest risk comes from the presence of Salmonella, Shigella, Escherichia coli, Yersinia enteroliths, Campylobacter, Clostridium, and Staphylococcus aureus, which can result in severe illnesses and disease.

Snake meat may taste like chicken but it is not chicken, it may appear cheap but in the long run, the cost of medicare and its accompanying inconveniences often leave a sour taste in the mouth. Sometimes when it comes to snakes, the wisest thing to do is to safely incinerate, bury, or properly dispose of its carcass because even a dead snake could still be as lethal as its living relatives. Also, Read Bizarre African Sex Ritual That Are Detrimental to Health

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