• Home
• Music
• Entertainment
• Design
• Books
• Technology
• Help/Environment
• Wellness
• Life Banter

Allow me to hang my head in shame, for I have not eaten an oyster in my life. However, I'm going to try them because in my readings I have found they are a low calorie protein, an excellent source of zinc, vitamin B-12, and omega-3 fatty acids; all of which I definitely need to ingest more.

In promoting more people to eat oysters there has also been a lot of research done in how one should cook them, because if your oysters are undercooked you can develop serious illnesses. Gulf oysters should never be eaten raw, especially if you have problems with your liver or have a weak immune system.

In fact, there is such a need for more information in regards to cooking oysters that "Be Oyster Aware" devotes an entire site to teaching you about the risks involved in not properly cooking oysters. The site includes valuable and educational information as well as a slew of delicious recipes!

The major cause of concern in eating shellfish, including oysters, is due to Vibrio vulnificus. Oysters are sedentary bivalve mollusks that feed by filtering plankton water. Because Vibrio vulnificus occurs naturally in the same waters that oysters feed, the bacteria is ingested and becomes concentrated in the animal's tissues. When people ingest oysters, there is a risk of also ingesting Vibrio vulnificus. You can reduce your risk by eating oysters fully cooked or by eating oysters that have been post-harvest processed.

And so there you have it. The good and the bad. But the good is very beneficial and so learning how to prevent the bad is necessary!

Labels: oysters, vitamins