What Are the Benefits of Eating Oysters? 5 Potential Benefits

1. Low in calories:Oysters are naturally low in calories, which makes them a good addition to yourdietif you are trying tolose weight. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 6 medium-sized oysters have just 47 calories, although this varies depending on the method of preparation (steamed oysters have fewer calories than fried oysters).
2. High in protein:One oyster provides you with about 2 grams of protein depending on its size. That means that 6 medium-sized oysters can give you about 12 grams of protein, which equals protein content in about 2 ounces of meat.
3. Improveshearthealth:Seafood is a good source of lean protein andomega-3 fatty acids, both of which are nutrients that promote heart health. Oysters also contain potassium, which can help lowerblood pressure.
4. Boosts immunity:Oysters are rich in zinc, which has beneficial effects on the immune system and can reduce the duration of thecommon coldand gut infections if started as a supplement in its initial stages.
5. May preventosteoporosis:Some preliminary studies suggest that certain compounds in oysters may help prevent bone loss. Although more evidence is needed, oysters can be consumed to promote bone health because of their protein and calcium content.

Oysters are often served raw, usually packed naturally in the shells. However raw oysters carry the risk of contamination with bacteria, parasites, orvirusesif harvested from unclean water.

Eating raw or undercooked oysters can cause infections, includingVibrio infection,norovirus infection, andhepatitis A. These conditions can cause symptoms that include:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Abdominal pain
• Severeweakness
• Skinrashesandblisters
• Highfever
• Chills
• Yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes

These infections can turn life-threatening and require urgent medical attention. Eating raw oyster meat can also cause serious side effects in people with certain medical conditions, such as:

• Diabetes
• HIVinfection
• Liver disease
• Chronic bowel and stomach diseases
• Hemochromatosisor hemosiderosis (abnormal iron metabolism)
• Steroid dependency (conditions that require frequent administration of steroids, such asasthma)
• Achlorhydria (lowered secretion of acid required fordigestion)
• Cancer
• Any illness or medical treatment that results in a weakened immune system
• Excessivealcoholintake

This is why major health organizations recommend only eating oysters that have been thoroughly cooked, as cooking in high heat can kill harmful germs.