Home » Your Guide to Proper Nutrition » How Seafood Promotes a Number of Benefits » The Health Benefits of Oysters
How Oysters Help Promote a Healthy Lifestyle
Nutrient Content
Vitamins
Excellent Source of:
- Vitamin B12- 272%
- Vitamin D- 67%
Also a Source of:
- Niacin- 6%
- Thiamin- 6%
- Riboflavin- 5%
- Vitamin C- 5%
- Vitamin E- 4%
Minerals
Excellent Source of:
- Zinc- 509%
- Copper- 187%
- Selenium- 76%
- Iron- 31%
Good Source of:
- Manganese- 15%
- Phosphorus- 11%
- Magnesium- 10%
Also a Source of:
- Calcium- 4%
- Potassium- 4%
Other
Also a Source of:
- Antioxidants – DHMBA
- Omega 3 Fatty Acids
*All nutritional Info From (1)
How Oysters Prevent Chronic Disease
How Oysters Prevent Cardiovascular Disease
1 to 2 seafood meals per week may reduce the risk of congestive heart failure, coronary heart disease, ischemic stroke, and sudden cardiac death, especially when seafood replaces less healthy foods like processed and red meat. (2)
- The main reason that seafood is good for heart health is that they are excellent sources of omega 3 fatty acids–specifically two types: EPA and DHA. Seafood is in fact the best source for these healthy fats. Plant sources of omega 3s are considered inferior because the body has to convert plant omega 3s into EPA and DHA, inefficient compared to sourcing the fats directly from fish. (3)
- Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids have been shown, in clinical settings, to reduce triglycerides, blood pressure, and resting heart rate and improve endothelial dysfunction. Growing evidence suggests that omega-3 PUFAs may also improve systemic vascular resistance, arrhythmias, myocardial efficiency, and left ventricular diastolic filling. (4)
How Oysters Prevent Diabetes
Diets containing shellfish were shown to improve glucose tolerance. (5)
- Oysters are a good source of magnesium. Magnesium deficiencies are linked to increased risk of diabetes. (6)
- Oysters do no significantly impact blood sugar levels and are high in protein to help fill you up and avoid overeating unhealthy foods.
Oysters Promotes a Number of Health Benefits
How Oysters Promote Mental Health
A number of nutrients have been linked to improving mental health, but none more potent and with more consistent findings than the omega 3 fatty acids EPA and DHA. Seafoods contain the highest levels of these fats, making them some of the best foods for mental health. (7)
- One study ranking foods based on the nutritional profile and their ability to promote mental health placed shellfish at the highest rank foods due to their high mineral content as well as high B12 and Omega 3 fatty acid levels. (8)
How Oysters Promote Bone Health
Vitamin D and Magnesium are crucial nutrients for the regulation of bone density and retention of calcium. Deficiencies in these vitamins put you at increased risk for osteoporosis and fractures. (9)
How Oysters Promote Immune Health
Just a half dozen of oysters contains 509% of your daily zinc intake! Zinc plays an important role in your immune system by assisting reactions that remove foreign pathogens from the body to combat illnesses. (10)
Pacific Oysters and DHMBA
Pacfic oysters were found to contain a powerful antioxidant, known as DHMBA, which has been shown to be effective in protecting the liver from oxidative stress. (11)