Oysters

The oyster has long been credited with a variety of health benefits, many of which revolve around the energy-increasing and immunity-boosting properties of the shellfish. Many of these claims are of dubious origin, but there is no denying that oysters provide an abundance of vitamins and minerals, packed into a high-protein, low-fat, and low-cholesterol package. Oysters are the most concentrated natural source of zinc, which is crucial to maintaining a strong immune system.

Few foods provide as many nutritional benefits in so delicious a form. Oysters are rich in protein. Each serving of six medium oysters contains six grams of protein. The protein found in oysters is particularly high in tyrosine, an amino acid used by the brain to help regulate mood and adapt to stress. Low in fat and calories. A serving of oysters contains just 2 grams of fat, and is especially low in saturated fat (at 0.7 grams). Despite their rich and satisfying taste, oysters have few calories, just 57 per serving.
Oysters are also low in cholesterol and chockfull of vitamins. One serving of oysters provides more than 20 percent of the recommended daily value of vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, C and D. A single serving also supplies the full daily allowance of vitamin B12, iron, copper, iodine, magnesium, calcium, zinc, manganese and phosphorus.

Nature’s best source of zinc
Oysters have been found to be the most concentrated dietary source of zinc, containing more zinc per serving than any other food. The abundance of zinc is in fact the strongest reason to recommend the mollusk as part of a healthy diet. Zinc is defined as an “essential mineral”, due to its critical role in strengthening the immune system, supporting wound healing and maintaining the senses of taste and smell.

A deficiency in zinc, can lead to a host of potentially serious health problems. Some symptoms that can results are: slow growth, poor appetite, decreased wound healing, loss of hair, impaired senses of taste and smell, more frequent infections, and difficulty in adapting vision to the dark. Research suggests that there are a multitude of health benefits from adequate zinc levels, such as:

Fighting infection - Zinc is needed in the production of certain infection-fighting white blood cells and that “the immune system is adversely affected by even moderate degrees of zinc deficiency.

Preventing cancer: A 2005 study by Jefferson Medical College suggests that zinc deficiency increases susceptibility to carcinogens that cause esophageal and oral cancer.“

Zinc is also involved in the process of metabolizing carbohydrates and improving the skin: Zinc helps maintain collagen and elastin fibers that give skin its firmness and help prevent sagging and wrinkles. Zinc is important in healing cuts and scrapes, while a deficiency causes dry, rough skin.