Oysters have been known for many years. In ancient times, this product was popular among the poor due to the high cost of animal meat. With its spread, the population of mollusks gradually declined. This led to an increase in the cost of seafood, which began to be considered a delicacy. The benefits of oysters for the body are associated with the presence of valuable substances.
Protein source recommended for consumption by men and women
Chemical composition of oysters
Seafood belongs to the family of mollusks (bivalves). A comfortable habitat is warm water bodies where both oyster colonies and solitary settlements are found.
The bivalve shell of mollusks is asymmetrical. Its size, shape and color vary significantly. Oysters live at depths of up to 70 m and have more than 50 varieties. Deep mollusks vary in size up to 50 cm, and flat mollusks - up to 5 cm.
Harvesting seafood is often seasonal. Their cultivation is possible in an artificial environment. Low temperatures are essential for adequate life activity.
Attention! It is necessary to differentiate between oysters and mussels. Seafood differs in shell appearance, structure and taste; the cost of mussels is significantly lower than oysters.
A substance is synthesized in the shell that helps increase size. Oyster shell composition:
- calcium carbonate;
- phosphate admixture;
- magnesium carbonate.
The product includes the following beneficial substances:
- tocopherol;
- retinol;
- ascorbic acid;
- vitamins belonging to group B;
- calcium;
- magnesium;
- potassium;
- phosphorus;
- iron.
Nutritional value:
- fats – 2.5 g;
- proteins – 8.7 g;
- carbohydrates – 4 g;
- water – 83 g.
The amount of dietary fiber is 1.1 g.
The delicacy is low in calories
Health Benefits of Oysters
The benefits of the product can be expected when consumed raw. Heat treatment leads to the loss of important components and taste.
The following useful properties are called:
- strengthening bone tissue;
- normalization of the functioning of the thyroid gland;
- lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels;
- improvement of psycho-emotional state;
- reducing the risk of developing malignant tumors;
- restoration of visual acuity;
- increase in hemoglobin level.
Important! Including seafood in the diet has a positive effect on the condition of the skin.
What are the benefits of oysters for women?
Eating this delicacy helps prolong youth. Therefore, the product is recommended for women. The beneficial effect is due to the presence of arginine in the composition. The amino acid improves the condition of the skin, eliminating fine wrinkles. Hair becomes healthier and grows faster.
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What are the benefits of oysters for men?
The components present in meat increase potency and libido. Seafood contains significant amounts of zinc. This substance is involved in spermatogenesis.
A significant number of men experience premature alopecia. Hair loss does not always depend on genetic factors. Often, thinning hair is caused by a deficiency of vitamins and minerals. Including a delicacy in the menu helps prevent the problem of hair loss.
The benefits of seafood
The vitamins in oysters have a beneficial effect on vision, accelerate wound healing, normalize metabolism, kidney function, nervous and cardiovascular systems. The product also strengthens the body’s protective functions, the endocrine system, has an antioxidant effect, helps accelerate the treatment of skin diseases and cleanses the body of cholesterol.
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Calcium and vitamin D strengthen bone tissue and increase testosterone production. Zinc stimulates reproductive function, improves the condition of hair, skin and nails, helps increase muscle mass and strengthens the immune system. Iodine normalizes the functioning of the thyroid gland and enriches tissues with oxygen.
Other minerals in the composition promote the absorption of iron, increase the activity of leukocytes, and prevent the development of diabetes and cancer.
Regular consumption of shellfish improves overall well-being, performance and stamina, and eliminates irritability. The low calorie content of oysters, combined with their benefits, helps girls get rid of cellulite and lose extra pounds.
Why are oysters harmful?
It is known that shellfish are a healthy product. Harm to health can be expected when consuming them in case of contraindications. Meat sometimes provokes allergic reactions. Using seafood without heat treatment is dangerous for the development of intestinal infections.
Eating a low-quality delicacy can cause poisoning. You should not visit cafes and restaurants that do not have adequate sanitary conditions. The healthy product has a pleasant marine smell.
Contraindications for oysters
Shellfish are not included in children's menus until the child is at least 5 years old. Before consumption, seafood must be heat treated.
Pregnant women should be especially careful. A weakened immune system may react negatively if you abuse this healthy delicacy.
During lactation, all components that make up breast milk penetrate the baby's body. The child’s immune and digestive systems are immature, which often causes various undesirable reactions. Breastfeeding women should stick to their usual diet and introduce foods gradually and in small quantities.
Oysters during lactation can be included in the menu only if they are consumed during pregnancy. In the first months of breastfeeding, meat is not recommended. It is advisable to heat-treat shellfish. This will destroy harmful microorganisms and the development of gastrointestinal diseases.
Attention! Oysters are good for humans. Their inclusion in the diet is undesirable in cases of thyroid dysfunction (hyperfunction), a tendency to allergies and protein intolerance.
Harm and contraindications of oysters
The seafood delicacy may well provoke an allergy when consumed. Moreover, such a reaction can occur in any gourmet, and not just in people who have a similar tendency. In addition, individual intolerance to the product may make itself felt. To understand whether a delicacy is suitable for you in this sense or not, you still have to try it - just don’t load up on the delicacy right away, stop at 1-2 pieces.
Like mussels, oysters are contraindicated for consumption by people with gout. The reason is the same: the extreme saturation of seafood with protein, which turns into uric acid in the internal environment of the human body, the salts of which in turn form crystalline deposits in the joints. Representatives of the fair sex during pregnancy, lactation and persons with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract should not feast on the delicacy. No one will benefit from eating bivalves in excess.
Rules for eating oysters
Shellfish must be alive. They are consumed without chewing. Seafood can be boiled, marinated and included in various dishes. Dead individuals lose their beneficial properties. Care should be taken when opening the sink. If uneven particles get into the pulp, they can provoke a violation of the integrity of the mucous membranes of the esophagus and stomach.
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The shell of the mollusk should be moist and the shell flaps should be closed. The weight of the shell is normally significant. When the doors open, a peculiar click is heard. You cannot purchase open oysters.
Attention! Live mollusks have a pleasant smell and transparent color. It is believed that the most healthy seafood is characterized by its small size.
Cleaned oysters can be stored for no more than 3 days. An ice cushion is used for this purpose. The prepared delicacy can be poured with vegetable oil. It must be consumed within a week. Otherwise, healthy meat loses its valuable properties.
Oysters during pregnancy
During pregnancy, a woman is advised to review her diet in order to provide the growing body with all the necessary substances. Dietary habits are also associated with an increased risk of allergic reactions. During pregnancy, hormonal levels change significantly, which makes the body more vulnerable.
However, gynecologists and nutritionists do not prohibit eating oysters in moderation. The benefits of the product are due to:
- high protein content;
- low calorie content;
- beneficial effects on the heart and blood vessels.
During pregnancy, the load on the cardiovascular system increases due to the appearance of a second circulation. Most women gain excess weight, which is accompanied by the danger of developing gestosis. Eating oysters helps minimize the risks associated with physiological changes.
OYSTERS: beneficial properties and contraindications.
Oysters are one of the favorite dishes of many connoisseurs of fine cuisine. They are an expensive product that not only has an unusual taste, but is also very healthy. It is precisely because of its valuable beneficial properties that experts recommend including oysters in the diet, despite its high cost.
Description of oysters: Oysters are a group of bivalve marine mollusks that live mainly in warm coastal coastal waters. There are about 50 types of oysters. The shell of oysters is thick-walled, asymmetrical and unequal. Oysters not only live in natural conditions, but are also grown artificially. Oysters are harvested and grown in many countries - the USA, Japan, South Korea, France, Spain, Portugal, Norway, Australia, the Russian Far East and other countries. Oyster meat has a jelly-like consistency; it is not eaten, but rather “drank” from the shell. The taste of this mollusk is quite difficult to describe; depending on the habitat, time of year, and species, it can be salty or sweetish. The best way to find out what this wonderful product tastes like is to try it. People either like oysters or really dislike them; there are practically no indifferent people.
Composition of oysters: Oysters are a storehouse of substances beneficial to the human body. Oyster pulp is 80% water and contains proteins, carbohydrates and healthy fats. It is a source of unsaturated fatty acids Omega-3 and Omega-6, amino acids, including essential ones. Oysters contain vitamins, group B (, B5, B6, B9 and B12), minerals such as: zinc, iodine, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, iron, copper, manganese, fluorine, selenium and other healthy substances.
Calorie content of oysters: The calorie content of oysters is about 70 kcal per 100 grams of product.
Useful properties of oysters:
- Thanks to their unique composition, oysters have a positive effect on almost the entire human body.
- Helps strengthen the immune system.
- Improves brain function.
- Oysters reduce the risk of cancer.
- Very useful for the cardiovascular system and hematopoiesis.
- Oysters are recommended for the prevention of thyroid diseases.
- These mollusks have a beneficial effect on the nervous system, helping to cope with stress and irritability.
- Improves liver and kidney function.
- Oysters are considered an aphodisiac as they contain high amounts of zinc, which promotes testosterone production.
- Regular consumption of oysters improves the condition of skin, hair and nails.
- Slows down the aging process and rejuvenates the body.
- Experts recommend including oysters in the diet of people struggling with excess weight.
Contraindications for oysters: Unfortunately, this wonderful product can be harmful to the body. Oysters are contraindicated in case of individual intolerance, allergies to seafood, gout, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, pregnancy and breastfeeding. In addition, when eating oysters there is a very high risk of getting food poisoning. Therefore, if you eat oysters raw, be sure to make sure they are fresh. It is also necessary to carefully examine the mollusk for shell fragments, as they can damage the digestive tract.
How to eat oysters: Oysters, unlike mussels, are most often eaten raw and alive. To do this, open the shell, sprinkle with lemon juice and drink. Oysters are also seasoned with black pepper or a special sauce. There are also many recipes that call for oysters to be baked, boiled, fried, and battered.
Eat oysters with pleasure and be healthy!
