Oysters are also high in potassium, magnesium, and omega-3 fatty acids which help reduce the overall risk of stroke and heart attack. They are also effective at lowering blood pressure.
Heart Health
Like fish and other seafoods, oysters are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are considered a healthy fat or cholesterol. They have been proven to reduce the chance of plaque accumulation in the blood vessels and improve overall cardiovascular health.
Oysters are a rich source of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, minerals, and vitamins while being low in carbohydrates. Oysters help regulate blood pressure and improve blood circulation, which gives an overall good feeling. Oysters are often regarded as an aphrodisiac (stimulates sex drive).
In the case of oysters, this little mollusk contains so much zinc that it should only be eaten occasionally. Eating them once or twice a week should land you in a nutritional sweet spot. Make sure you balance your zinc intake with enough copper — especially if you really enjoy oysters!
Foodie tradition dictates only eating wild oysters in months with the letter “r” – from September to April – to avoid watery shellfish, or worse, a nasty bout of food poisoning.
Oysters can be a healthy addition to your diet when consumed in moderation, so it is best to consume not more than six per day.
Chew, chew, chew
"An oyster is meant to be savored. Rather than swallowing whole, I recommend biting into the oyster so the full flavor profile can be experienced. Also, when consuming an oyster in the shell, remember the 'oyster liquor' is there to be enjoyed.
Oysters are rich in several important nutrients, including zinc, vitamin B12, copper and selenium. They also provide omega-3 fatty acids and essential amino acids. Despite their nutritional value, oysters are not good for you because of their risk of bacterial contamination.
Oysters can help lower your cholesterol. A study done by the University of Washington found that eating oysters can help raise the HDLs (good cholesterol levels) and lower the LDL's (bad cholesterol levels).
Oysters also contain anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties to help ward off any unwanted bacteria.
Yes! Oysters are a superfood that are packed with nutrients and minerals. This is based on their nutrition-to-calorie ratio, which is higher than most other seafood and even some fruits and vegetables. An average serving of oysters contains just under 30 calories but packs in a whopping 8 grams of protein.
Eating raw or undercooked oysters that contain Vibrio bacteria can make you ill. Some kinds of Vibrio bacteria cause the illness vibriosis. An oyster that contains Vibrio doesn't look, smell, or taste different from any other oyster. Cooking oysters properly can kill Vibrio and other harmful germs they might contain.
Think of an oyster like a grape: if you don't chew the grape, you won't get the full flavor.
Shellfish. Shellfish naturally contain slightly higher quantities of sodium than finfish, though some fresh shellfish are low-sodium choices, such as raw shrimp, raw soft clams and raw oysters.
Oysters are also high in potassium, magnesium, and omega-3 fatty acids which help reduce the overall risk of stroke and heart attack. They are also effective at lowering blood pressure.
Eating too many oysters on a regular basis can lead to negative health effects, including reduced levels of the minerals iron and copper, which zinc competes for absorption. In addition, people with seafood allergies should also avoid eating oysters.
Many pros, including Erin Murray, author of Shucked, have some pretty strong opinions about how many oysters you should order. In a restaurant setting, Murray recommends ordering 6 oysters per person, which could be great for an appetizer.
Steamed Oysters
Steaming is also one of the healthiest ways to cook oysters, as it doesn't require olive oil or other ingredients that could add calories and fat.
Look for the telltale milky sac that indicates an oyster is spawning. If it's just getting going, the sac is little more than a thin, cream-colored line less than half an inch long. If the oyster is in high gear, the sac will be large and cloudy, overtaking much of the oyster's body mass.
Potentially life-threatening to most people, symptoms of Vibrio vulnificus infection occurs within 24 to 48 hours of ingestion and may include symptoms such as sudden chills, fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, shock and skin lesions.
Smoked and canned oysters make a great (occasional) afternoon snack, once every week or two. While oysters are extremely nutritious, eating a can every day would likely be too much of a good thing.
A serving of 6 medium oysters (approximately 84 grams) provides 50 calories, 4 g protein, 1.3 g fat (<0.5 g saturated), 150 mg sodium, 21 mg cholesterol, is an excellent source (>25% DV) of iron, zinc, copper, selenium and vitamin B12, and a source (>5% DV) of magnesium, phosphorus, folate, vitamin C and thiamin.
A bushel of oysters will typically feed 4-6 people. If your guests are heavy oyster eaters, or if you will not be serving other food, you probably want to do 1 bushel for every 4 people. If your guests are light oyster eaters, or you are serving other food, you should be fine with 1 bushel for every 6-8 oyster eaters.