Check Out These Six Nutritional Benefits of Lobster

This month, especially towards its end, lobster will be on the minds, or rather in the mouths, of many. How can it not, with the annual Anegada Lobster Festival taking place from 29 November to 1 December? As is customary, local chefs at participating restaurants will outdo themselves with creative delights featuring the much-loved shellfish.

Some welcome this period to try the various imaginative lobster-inspired dishes. Others are more traditional, relishing biting into the sweet and tender meat of boiled lobster. Whichever your preference, have you considered the health benefits of this particular type of seafood?

As you indulge in the variety of dishes during this year’s lobster festival, you can be assured that lobster has considerable nutritional value. Zinc, vitamin B, and copper are among several others. However, the levels of these are somewhat negligible. This article discusses six nutritional substances which are found in greater quantity.

Good source of Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Generally, seafood provides several essential nutrients, including omega-3 fatty acids. This is good news because this compound helps with several functions in the body, namely heart, brain, and eye health.  While lobster certainly provides omega-3 fatty acids, its content is not as high as salmon or mussels. Nevertheless, its offering is still significant. You can also boost your omega-3 intake by pairing your lobster portion with other marine fish.

Protein-rich

Lobster compensates for its moderate fatty acid levels with a rich protein count. Now, let us disprove a myth. It’s generally believed red meat has more protein than seafood, but data by WebMD states otherwise. According to the online medical blog, three ounces of lobster has as much protein as a similar amount of minced beef. The difference occurs in the saturated fat content, as lobster has less than lean beef. Since protein plays a fundamental role in the body, such as building and repairing muscle, lobster is an excellent way of obtaining more of it.

Packed with Potassium

When it comes to foods that provide potassium, it is very likely that lobster ranks very low on your list, if at all. Yet, for every three ounces of cooked lobster you consume, you add 195 milligrams of potassium to your recommended daily intake. The high sodium levels in this type of meat are, of course, a concern. Nonetheless, the potassium neutralises the impact of sodium. Still, an additional measure to regulate your consumption is ensuring a minimal amount of salt is added in its preparation.

Low in Saturated Fat

We discussed lobster’s low saturated fat content above, but let us elaborate further. Although our bodies requires fats, a diet high in saturated fats can be problematic because they can be unhealthy. Saturated fats enter your blood, raise your LDL cholesterol (which is bad), and increase your risk of heart disease. Fortunately, lobster possesses a minimal amount of such fats. It is, however, high in dietary cholesterol, but there is little evidence to prove this affects blood cholesterol. Therefore, contrary to popular belief, lobster meat does not elevate blood cholesterol, however, the way it is prepared might! It is best to avoid meat that is slathered with butter.

High in Selenium

Selenium is an additional nutrient present in lobster that potentially provides health benefits. MedicalNewsToday reports that it protects against cardiovascular diseases, thyroid disorders, cognitive decline, and some forms of cancer. How much selenium can be found in lobster? According to Healthline, one cup of lobster provides 190% of the daily value, which is quite impressive.

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Although lobster is considered a luxurious and expensive food, many people still like it, and very few may need convincing to add it to their diet. Here in the BVI, we certainly don’t. However, now, with greater clarity about its many dietary benefits, you can gleefully feast on the varied tasty options provided by the Anegada Lobster Festival 2024.

Sources: EatingWell, Healthline, MedicalNewsToday, Medline Plus and WebMD.