June 26/22 - How to eat your zinc...oysters for your health

Check out the different sizes in one of the oysters capitals in the world!
Mali Ston, Croatia

Oysters!!!
I think either you love them or hate them but once you really try them I think your body starts to CRAVE them! At least that's what happened to me! I used to say I would never eat oysters but as a nutritionist I know they are one of the very best foods to eat for your health. They are low calorie and extremely nutrient dense!

They have an insane amount of zinc, roughly 500-700% of your daily recommended zinc for the day in 2 average sized oysters. Other notable minerals include Vitamin D, Copper, Zinc, Selenium, Iron and Vitamin B12 so these little things are like eating your vitamins!

Yes, they are an aphrodisiac!
Check out these other benefits for both men and women! 
Oysters are said to be "nature's sex food"

For women especially over the age of 40 the copper and zinc, can assist in bone loss. Specifically for women zinc has been known to help vaginal dryness and regulating your cycle. The daily recommended amount is 8mg and it is thought that zinc coming from food (red meat and poultry have zinc too) is better absorbed than zinc from a supplement form.

For men, the zinc in oysters may increase testosterone levels and help maintain healthy levels of dopamine to get the "mood" going and to make you last! Their heart-healthy omega-3 fats may furthermore increase blood flow to prevent issues such as erectile dysfunction. The daily recommended amount for men is 11mg.

Oysters ready to eat on the side of the road in Croatia!
Are you getting enough zinc?
Here’s some signs you may not be…look at your nails - do you have white spots on your nails? Do you experience hair loss, eye issues and impotence in males? These are pretty broad but how about a loss of appetite, feeling irritable, diarrhea and are you succumbing to more infections?

Don’t take a chance of a deficiency, just eat a few oysters! Here’s how to eat them properly…

Slurp - top your oysters the Croatian way is to just have lemon and maybe pepper on your raw oyster but I have seem many toppings from hot sauce and shallot mignonette to the best Caesar slush topping from Chef Micheal Smith’s new cookbook, Farm, Fire & Feast! His legendary dinners feature an Oyster House which if you are in PEI you can't miss this one, bucket list dinner/experience for sure!
Chew - yes, chew these babies to get the full flavour!
Swallow - obviously the best part!
Repeat - keep eating because the health benefits are amazing!

So if you love them, eat them! If you don't try them again...the east coast and west coast are different, around the world they vary in size and taste. Just try them over and over and soon you will find you CRAVE them. Hey, if I can be converted, so can you!

Thank you for following my journey to writing a book series!
Stay balanced,
LeeAnna