The Orgasmic Oyster

Today I bring you a post that I find to be very fascinating. Before I begin, I would like to apologize for a lack of posts this month. Busy lives sometimes do not allow for blogging, but because work has been slow this week, I decided that what a perfect time it was to write. Now that summer is approaching, I have a whole list of fun activities that I would like to conquer, as I am sure many of you do as well. Going to the beach, having barbeques, and enjoying time with family and friends in the sun are all common summer goals. Most summer activities include good food and drinks, which is why these activities are applicable and ideal for everyone. Now, being a person who spent a lot of my childhood on Cape Cod, I have acquired quite a palate for seafood. Fish, clams, mussels, lobster, shrimp,seaweed, sea urchin...you name it, I have eaten it.

Out of all the filter feeders and sea anemones, my absolutely favorite is the salty, sand-in-your-mouth, aphrodisiacal oyster. When most people think of an oyster, ESPECIALLY if they are not use to eating seafood, they gag. It brings a tear to my eye to see people turning away this luscious bundle of nutrients just because they have never tried them before. Well here's a tip people: Grow up! If you try it, and still don't like it, fine. If you sit there and make faces at something you've never tried, you are a baby. Anyways, oysters bring a lot of things to the table. I think my favorite fact about these filter feeders is that you can eat them raw. As many of you probably don't know, eating raw food that has not been cooked past 104 degrees Fahrenheit contains the highest amount of nutrients. This is because foods that have been cooked above this nutrient-killing temperature have lost much of their nutritional value and are less healthful or even harmful to the body. This is one of the many beliefs of those following a raw vegan diet, and it makes perfect sense. Eating raw, natural foods that have not been tampered with in way, are the most nutrient rich. So when you think of raw oysters coming straight out of the ground and down into your belly, you can be happy that you are being filled with nutrients that truly promote good health and longevity. 

Oysters are members of a family known as Ostreidae. This family is the family of true oysters, and include the most common species that are eaten by humans. Some of these oysters include the Eastern Oyster, the Olympia oyster, and the Wellfleet oyster, which can be shucked right down in Wellfleet, Massachusetts. Oysters can be harvested in both the Atlantic and Pacific water. They are known as bivalve mollusks - bivalve meaning that they contain two shells. They also have an adductor muscle, which means they have a central point of attachment to their shell, and can be seen when you open the oyster, along with all of its other other bodily parts.

Oysters are a wonderful source of many nutrients. They are most known for being high in zinc, iron, calcium, selenium, vitamin A, vitamin D and vitamin B12. Oysters are a great addition to a diet of someone who may be anemic, because of their high iron levels. The zinc levels found in oysters are also very important to the human body because many different biochemical processes need zinc in order to occur. The high zinc content of oysters also help the body to increase testosterone levels, which is why these mollusks are known as aphrodisiacs. Oysters are also very rich in amino acids, which helps trigger an increase in sex hormone levels. Oysters have been a favorite food since ancient times. They were cultivated in China before the Christian era. The Greeks, Romans, and Indians enjoyed these mollusks long before we ever shucked them up, and now we know why! Oysters are also wonderful because of how low in calories they are. One serving of raw oysters is about 6 medium oysters on the half shell. Total calories for 6 raw oysters is going to be anywhere in between 40 to 60 calories. How about that! A solid source of raw nutrients, protein, and very little calories. (I want to slurp some just thinking about it). As far as protein goes, well oysters are literally just a muscle between the two shells. This means oysters have a very high protein content, and a low fat content, making them an ideal food for someone looking to eat on a diet. In one cup of raw oysters, you can find as much as 17 grams of protein. So after your long, dreary workout at the gym, you might as well just go to the raw bar. They do have some fats, and are mostly unsaturated fats...good fats, but are small amounts, maybe 3% of your daily intake.

Check out this nutrition data page to get a full breakdown of all the vitamins and minerals found in these precious gems:

http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/finfish-and-shellfish-products/4189/2

All in all, oysters are great for you, they are fun to eat, and they are fun to catch. They are great for summer barbeques, great to order at the raw bar, and great for your body. If you have never tried an oyster before, do yourself a favor and head to your local seafood mart. If you are looking for a GREAT raw bar, I highly suggest the Wellfleet Beachcomber in Wellfleet, Massachusetts. Great raw bar and restaurant overlooking a beautiful beach. It doesn't get much better than that.

http://www.thebeachcomber.com/

Look how much fun they're having!