Lobster Health and Medicinal Benefits
Lobster is a crustacean that is eaten as seafood in many countries around the world. There are two major types of lobster that are eaten: the European Lobster and North American Lobster. These are sometimes called blue lobster and Maine lobster[1].
The European lobster is typically found in the northeastern region of the Atlantic Ocean, while the North American lobster comes from the northwestern Atlantic Ocean. The texture and taste of these two types of lobster are different, but their nutritional benefits are similar.
Lobster Nutritional Information
Lobster is a low-calorie food packed with vitamins and minerals. It’s a good lean protein and it contains minimal fat[2]. One cup of boiled or steamed lobster meat contains 27.6 grams of protein, as well as calcium, magnesium, selenium, vitamin B5, vitamin B12, choline, and zinc[3].
Calcium is important because it helps strengthen your bones, magnesium helps regulate blood sugar, while selenium acts as a powerful antioxidant. Adding antioxidants to your diet may reduce the risk of many diseases (including heart disease and certain cancers) since they help prevent and reduce the damage caused by certain toxins (such as pollution or smoke)[4].
Vitamin B5 is critical to the manufacture of red blood cells while vitamin B12 helps with red blood cell formation. Choline plays a role in healthy brain function as well as improving liver function[5]. Zinc helps your immune system and metabolism function better.
As you can see, the fact that lobster contains many important vitamins and nutrients makes it a good and healthy food to eat. Of course, like most foods, whether lobster should be considered a healthy food depends on how it is prepared. Lobster is often served with butter or various sauces, and it often comes with a side of rolls or other breads. These foods tend to be high in calories and saturated fats.
However, lobster also contains omega-3 fatty acids, which are important for various reasons[6]. Benefits include maintaining proper heart rhythm, lowering blood pressure, improving the function of blood vessels, and helping to prevent heart disease.
References: [1] “Is Lobster Healthy? Here's What a Dietitian Says” Eating Well. Retrieved 18 September 2024. https://www.eatingwell.com/article/7913555/is-lobster-healthy/
[2] “Thyroid” Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved 18 September 2024. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/23188-thyroid
[3] “Eating healthy fats has many benefits” UCLA Health. Retrieved 18 September 2024https://www.uclahealth.org/news/article/eating-healthy-fats-has-many-benefits
[4] “Everything you need to know about lobster” Medical News Today. Retrieved 18 September 2024. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/303332
[5] “Claws of health? Lobster blood could play role in new drugs” STAT News. Retrieved 18 September 2024. https://www.statnews.com/2020/02/19/lobster-blood-could-play-role-in-new-drugs/
The Health Benefits of Lobster
Because lobster is rich in both selenium and iodine, it can help support thyroid function[1]. Your thyroid plays an important role in your body and in your overall health. It produces and releases certain hormones, specifically those responsible for regulating your metabolism. This means it helps control how your body turns the food you eat into energy[2]. If your thyroid isn’t working properly, it can negatively affect your entire body.
Lobster is also important because it contains healthy fats. While many people avoided eating any fat of any type for fear of it making them gain weight, modern research shows that certain fats are not only good for you, but they are important parts of a healthy diet. Healthy fats are important as they help regulate blood pressure, improve blood cholesterol levels, and have been shown to help maintain the health of your gut lining[3].
Medicinal Uses for Lobster
There are several medicinal benefits to eating lobster. In addition to the nutritional benefits listed above, lobster has also been shown to help protect against depression[4]
In fact, there is some evidence that lobster circulatory fluid can help prevent viruses and cancers[5]. This is because a protein in the fluid, hemocyanin, has been shown to work as a powerful immune system stimulant.
Eating Lobster
Most people don’t eat lobster on a regular basis. As it can be quite costly in addition to being somewhat difficult to find, depending on where you live and shop, it is often considered to be a food that is eaten on vacations, special occasions, and celebrations. While most people eat lobster at restaurants, it’s also possible to cook it at home.
Cooking, preparing, and eating an entire lobster can get messy, so you’ll want to make sure that you have the right tools (such as a claw cracker and small picks or forks) along with many napkins and perhaps even a bib.
Most of the meat in a lobster is found in the tail. Using a knife, cut the tail down the center and split it lengthwise to get to the meat. There is also meat to be found in the claws, though this can be more difficult to get to. A cracker and a small fork are often necessary. The legs usually have the least amount of meat, but you’ll still find some there! The rest of the body does not have much meat, but it can be saved and used to make seafood stock or soup.
References:
[1] “What is the difference between blue lobster and Maine lobster?” Mmmediterranean. Retrieved 18 September 2024. https://mmmediterranean.com/difference-between-blue-lobster-and-maine-lobster/
[2]“Is Lobster Healthy? Everything You Need to Know” Healthline. Retrieved 18 September 2024. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/lobster-nutrition#nutrition
[3] “Lobster Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits” Very Well Fit. Retrieved 18 September 2024. https://www.verywellfit.com/lobster-nutrition-facts-4134901
[4] “Antioxidants” Better Health Channel. Retrieved 18 September 2024. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/antioxidants
[5] “What Is Choline? An Essential Nutrient With Many Benefits” Healthline. Retrieved 18 September 2024. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/what-is-choline
[6] “Are There Health Benefits of Lobster?” WebMD. Retrieved 18 September 2024. https://www.webmd.com/diet/are-there-health-benefits-of-lobster
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