The oyster is a mainstay of seafood restaurants and fish markets around the world. There are two types of oysters: saltwater and freshwater. Saltwater oysters are what you’ll find in most sushi restaurants, and they’re usually served raw with just a dab of lemon and some cocktail sauce. If you’re looking for something a bit more adventurous, you can also get fried oysters or baked oysters at many restaurants or get oyster seafood delivery in Sydney. Oysters are a fantastic food — they’re low in calories and high in protein, iron and vitamins A and C. They’re also incredibly delicious! If you’ve never tried them, don’t be afraid — we’ll walk you through the basics of how to prepare and eat oysters.
- They’re nutrient-rich
Oysters are an excellent source of protein, they’re low in fat and they provide essential minerals like iron. Oysters pack in plenty of protein, vitamins, and minerals that can support your overall health. Some of the nutrients they contain include:
Seawater contains many elements essential to human nutrition, which naturally end up in oysters. They contain more than 10 times the recommended daily allowance of vitamin B12 (which helps maintain healthy nerve cells and red blood cells), as well as vitamin D (which helps calcium absorption for strong bones). Every 3-ounce serving also contains nearly 50 percent of your recommended daily allowance of iron (which helps make red blood cells) and zinc (which supports your immune system).
- They’re environmentally sustainable
Oyster farms have a very small environmental footprint (unlike other forms of animal agriculture), which means that eating oysters is one way to enjoy seafood without damaging the environment. As an added bonus, oyster farms actually help clean up the water by filtering out pollutants! Oysters are low in calories but high in protein. A 3-ounce serving of oysters has only 82 calories and 8 grams of protein, making them an excellent source of lean protein. They also have only 1.5 grams of fat per serving, none of which is saturated or trans-fat.
- They may help fight climate change
In addition to being environmentally friendly, oyster farms can also help reduce carbon emissions! How? Because oysters create limestone structures called “reefs” when they grow together on the ocean floor, reefs absorb carbon emissions from the atmosphere.
- Heart Health
Oysters are a good source of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. They also contain tyrosine and taurine, two amino acids that help to regulate blood pressure and reduce inflammation in the cardiovascular system.
- Cancer Prevention
Oysters contain high levels of zinc, which can aid in the prevention of prostate cancer. Researchers have also found a specific compound in oysters called D-aspartic acid that may help to prevent breast cancer as well.
- Vitamin B12
A single serving of oysters contains nearly 500 percent of the recommended daily allowance (RDA) for vitamin B12, which helps to boost mood, regulate metabolism, and improve bone health. It’s also been found to lower the risk for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia as we age.
- Oysters help lower blood pressure
Studies have shown that oyster extract lowers blood pressure in rats with high blood pressure. The results have yet to be replicated in humans, but it’s still worth giving these tasty bivalves a try if you suffer from hypertension.