Tasting an oyster for the first time is like going on a blind date. The experience can be a little intimidating, there’s a slight element of uncertainty, and, when it ends, you hope you’re delighted and charmed. If you’re curious to try oysters, you’ll be enchanted by their buttery and chewy textures, which are followed by pleasing hints of flavor such as minerals, seawater, and cucumbers.
If you’re an oyster aficionado, then you know to appreciate an oyster’s merroir and savior the essence of where it came from. But did you know that oysters are not only delicious but have amazing health benefits as well? Full of important nutrients, oysters have been known to improve brain health, support heart health, and so much more. Read on to discover the incredible health benefits of oysters and learn how they positively impact both our bodies and the environment.
What are the Health Benefits of Oysters?
Nestled on a chilled bed of ice, oysters are an unassuming nutrient-dense powerhouse. They are chock full of vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin D, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, copper, manganese, and selenium. With their low-calorie count and high levels of micronutrients, oysters can be a healthy choice for your diet. Here are some of the biggest health benefits of oysters:
Heart Health
Rich in omega-3 fatty acids, oysters are great for your heart’s health. Omega-3 fatty acids are known to help reduce the risk of heart failure and strokes and even improve high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, which is called the “good” cholesterol. The National Institutes of Health recommends adults eat about one to one and a half grams of omega 3s daily, depending on your age and sex. One oyster contains approximately .67 grams of omega-3 fatty acids. So, one sampling of our oysters and bubbles dish, which features three oysters and a glass of Prosecco, would cover your daily omega-3 needs.
Immune System Boost
Zinc is a natural antioxidant that is found in a variety of foods, including beans, meat, fish, and abundantly in oysters. It helps support your body’s immune function and reduces the risk of infections. Since our bodies don’t naturally create zinc, we need to consume it through the food we eat. Oysters are known to be one of the richest sources of zinc available to us. Eating an oyster can give you five and a half milligrams of zinc, which is over half of the recommended dietary allowance of eight milligrams adults should consume daily. Who knew enjoying a plate of oysters on the half shell could strengthen your immunity?
Brain Function
Oysters are packed with vitamin B12, making them an excellent choice for supporting your brain’s health. Vitamin B12 plays a vital role in creating your body’s DNA, aiding your brain and nervous system, and helping your body to develop red blood cells. A lack of vitamin B12 can cause memory loss, fatigue, and muscle weakness. Oysters are among the highest sources of vitamin B12 we can eat. Simply enjoying some salt-roasted oysters with malt vinegar aioli and cilantro oil can help you on your way to improving your mental performance!
How Oysters Help Create a Healthy Planet
The health benefits of oysters are many for not only us but the environment too! Wonderful environmental guardians, oysters help keep our planet healthy by filtering the water around them. As they develop, they naturally remove particulates, algae, and excess nutrients from the water. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, “One adult oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water each day. A farm with 100,000 oysters per acre can potentially filter up to 5 million gallons of water per acre daily.” By filtering the water around them, oysters help to enable more sunlight to reach the ocean floor. This encourages the growth of eelgrass, a vital habitat for many marine species. So, not only do oysters reduce water pollution, but they also create bountiful ecosystems around themselves.
That’s not all; oyster reefs can act as natural storm protection. They can protect underwater habitats and waterfront communities from potentially damaging impacts of floods and tides. A well-established oyster bed from a healthy oyster reef can help stabilize the ocean bottom and absorb as much as 76 to 93 percent of wave energy. This resilience against wave impact reduces erosion, flooding, and property damage from coastal storms. We find it inspiring that oysters require so little from their surroundings, yet they provide a wealth of benefits to the planet and us in return.
Best Steps for Eating Oysters Properly
Whether you prefer to savor them raw with just a splash of freshly squeezed lemon or salt roasted with cumin crackers, oysters are a deliciously simple food meant to be simply enjoyed. Follow these steps to get the most enjoyment out of relishing your oyster-tasting experience:
- To taste oysters properly, first use a small fork or an oyster knife and make sure the oyster is cut loose from its shell.
- Next, carefully “slurp” the oyster into your mouth. Don’t immediately swallow it. Take your time to chew it and savor its unique flavors. If you swallow an oyster right away, you will likely only experience a salty, briny taste.
- Then, like a sommelier, open your mouth to aerate the taste while chewing the oyster. Doing so will enhance the oyster’s flavor across your palate. Like tasting wine, look for hints of sweetness, cucumbers, and even melons. Whether an oyster is salty or sweet or tastes like melon or cucumber will depend on where the oyster originated.
- Finally, enjoy! Swallow the oyster and follow it with a nicely paired sparkling wine or champagne. Doing this will cleanse your palate and refresh your mouth. Special hint: we recommend pairing our oysters with our French chardonnay from the Chablis region. Ask your server for a glass, as it’s “secretly” not listed on our menu.
Consuming Oysters Safely
Though rare, the most frequent risk associated with eating raw oysters is exposure to harmful bacteria and parasites. Fortunately, this risk is quite low. It is generally recommended that high-risk groups—such as people with compromised immune systems, babies, and older adults — should not eat raw or undercooked fish.
At Feast Raw Bar & Bistro, we deeply value the quality and freshness of our seafood. It’s why we have a reputation for being the best restaurant in Bozeman. We only order in small batches from trusted purveyors, like Island Creek Oyster Company, who make freshness their highest priority. Plus, we only select oysters and seafood that are top-tier in quality. We pay meticulous attention to our oysters when they arrive at our restaurant and reject any packaging or oysters that do not meet our exceptionally high standards. By verifying that an oyster’s packaging is free of environmental contaminants upon delivery, consistently keeping oysters ice cold, and stringently following recommended food safety protocols, we ensure our guests enjoy the freshest oysters possible.
Add Oysters to Your Diet by the Half Dozen!
If you’re looking to boost your immunity, improve your memory, or help support your heart, oysters are a delicious, low-calorie way to better your health. At Feast, we recognize oysters’ significant health benefits and value their humble contribution to sustaining our planet. We’re passionate about the oysters we serve, and our team is ready to guide you in choosing oyster dishes that will delightfully transport you on an oceanic journey with one taste. Join us and order a half dozen today! Reserve your table online or call us at (406) 577-2377.