8 Wonderful Benefits Of Oysters

Oysters are unusual and delicious molluscs that provide the human body with a number of unique nutrients and minerals, which subsequently result in some great health benefits. These include the ability of oysters to aid weight loss attempts, boost metabolic activity, increase tissue repair and growth, lower your cholesterol levels, reduce blood pressure, improve your immune functions, aid in wound healing, and promote healthy growth. Furthermore, they are considered a powerful aphrodisiac, can improve blood circulation, and increase bone strength to reduce osteoporosis.

Oysters are one type of bivalve molluscs that are eaten by cultures throughout the world. There are multiple varieties of oysters, some of which primarily create pearls; these are not typically consumed by people, but the variety of oysters bearing the scientific family name of Ostreidae are eaten as a delicacy. These are also called true oysters, while feathered oysters (those bearing pearls) are in a distant family called Pteriidae. Edible oysters have been a part of the human diet for at least 700 years, but have likely been eaten in raw or cooked forms for much longer. The edible components are the meat inside the oyster, and once the shells have been cracked, you can cook this meat in a variety of ways, but they can also be eaten raw, and is often preferred in that way.

The valves in oysters can actually cleanse entire ecosystems of pollutants and are a major benefit to the environment, however, in recent years, the oyster population of the world has dropped significantly, resulting in weaker overall ecosystems in the areas where oysters once flourished. This drop in population has been caused by invasive species and general environmental decline. This has made oysters even more of a delicacy, and the price has significantly increased around the world.

Nutritional Value Of Oysters

The impressive health benefits of oysters come from its vast stockpiles of minerals, vitamins, and organic compounds. In fact, certain mineral varieties are in their highest content in oysters, meaning that they are the premiere food item in the entire world for supplementation, particularly of zinc. The other components include very high levels of protein, vitamin D, vitamin B12, iron, copper, manganese, and selenium. Oysters also contain

high levels of niacin, riboflavin, thiamin, vitamin C, phosphorus, potassium, and sodium. Finally, oysters are a huge source of beneficial cholesterol, antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, and water. These elements of oysters make them an extremely healthy food that can seriously boost your body’s overall function and health.Let’s examine some of these health benefits in greater detail.

Health Benefits Of Oysters
Aphrodisiac: As an aphrodisiac, oysters can help boost sexual performance and libido, primarily in men. The zinc content of oysters is unbelievable, and contains more than 1500% of the daily requirements of this essential mineral in a single serving. Zinc has also been closely linked to sexual dysfunction in men, while impotence and erectile dysfunction are closely associated with zinc deficiency. Therefore, eating oysters can give men their sexual edge back and increase feelings of masculinity.

Weight Loss: Oysters represent one of the most nutrient packed foods with the lowest calories versus the volume of serving size. This means that people trying to lose weight can keep their body packed with the nutrients it needs, without adding too much weight on their frame. Compared to an equal serving size of chicken, oysters have nearly half the calories, and chicken breasts are often turned to for low-calorie, protein-rich meals. Oysters are far superior in this respect, except they do have a high content of sodium, so for people already suffering from obesity, oysters may exacerbate the problem.

Protein Content: Proteins are some of the most essential parts of our diet, and oysters are a very strong source. Proteins are often broken down by the body’s enzymatic activity, and then reconstructed into usable human proteins in every part of the body. It ensures proper metabolic activity, tissue repair, cellular growth, muscle strength, and a wide variety of other necessary aspects of human health. The important of protein in the diet cannot be overstated, and a single serving of oysters provides nearly 1/3 of the daily requirement.

Heart Health: Oysters can positively impact heart health in a variety of ways, but primarily, the high levels of omega-3 fatty acids versus omega-6 fatty acids are what impact the cholesterol so greatly. Omega-3 fatty acids are known as “good” forms of cholesterol, and the high ratio of “good” to “bad” cholesterol (omega-6 fatty acids) makes oysters a major player in heart health. It can reduce the content of bad cholesterol in the blood stream and inhibit it from binding to blood vessel and artery walls. In this way, it reduces the chances of plaque accumulation and a variety of health complications, including cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, the high potassium and magnesium content of oysters can help to lower blood pressure and relax the blood vessels, thereby increasing circulation and oxygenation of the blood and reducing strain on the cardiovascular system as a whole. Finally, the vitamin E in oysters increases the strength and flexibility of cellular membranes, which is a third level of protection against dangerous heart diseases.

Wound Healing: The unprecedented levels of zinc in oysters result in a number of health benefits, including quicker wound healing rates, and boosted immune system against various infections and microbes. As an essential mineral, zinc is also important for proper growth and development of children and young adults, as well as the maintenance of bodily function for people of all ages. Don’t take my word for it; read more about all of the health benefits of zinc.

Blood Circulation and Volume: Oysters are also a very impressive source of iron, with more than 90% of our daily requirements in each serving. Iron is a key component in the formation of red blood cells in the body, and are the primary defense against anemia, also known as iron deficiency, which can lead to fatigue, cognitive malfunction, stomach disorders, and general muscle weakness. Also, with a fresh supply of healthy blood cells in the circulatory system, organ systems have high levels of oxygenated blood to stimulate their activity, making them function efficiently and boosting the overall metabolic rate of the body.

Bone Health: The mineral content, as we’ve explained, is quite impressive in oysters, and that is also a major contributor to the strength of your bones. The high levels of calcium, phosphorus, zinc, iron, copper, and selenium all contribute in their own way to increasing bone mineral density and durability, thereby protecting your from developing conditions like osteoporosis.

Immune Function: Boosting the immune system is yet another possible health benefit of eating oysters. The vitamin C and vitamin E content, as well as various minerals that have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, are able to defend the body against free radicals that are byproducts of cellular metabolism. They can attack healthy cells and mutate the DNA into cancerous cells. These dangerous free radicals also cause heart disease, premature aging, and general body disrepair wherever they lodge themselves. Antioxidants and various vitamins can eliminate these free radicals from the body, thereby boosting the immune system.