Oysters

[Foreigner]

I tried oysters recently for the first time in my life, raw but seasoned with lemon juice and spices. They're probably one of the most unusual foods I've ever had. When I got home I did some research on them and it turns out that they're super nutritious... one of the most iron rich foods in the world, with zinc and selenium as well. I wish they weren't so expensive... I'm currently anemic and could use the iron. They seem like a much better alternative to beef.

What irks me though is that I read raw oysters can contain a deadly, flesh eating bacteria, especially if they're off season (like right now)! Ugh... so I took a bit of a risk in eating them. I live on the coast, but still. The last thing I need is deadly bacteria poisoning!

Luckily, if you cook them thoroughly the threat is gone.

Just wondering if anyone else here has experience with cooking oysters. Any good recipes you could recommend for the cooked meat? Some people think they're gross but I find them pretty tasty... you can taste the fresh salty ocean off them. They also seem pretty sustainable.

Also, I'm wondering if anyone here has used oyster or clam meat to correct deficiencies? Apparently clam meat is even higher in iron than oyster meat. Could this be a solution to anemia? I can't take oral iron and my doctor is thinking of giving me iron injections, but the side effect profile is nutso. So I've been a bit stressed trying to figure out how to get my iron.

Cool fact: the belief that oysters are an aphrodisiac may be true because of the high zinc content, at least for men. Zinc prevents testosterone from being metabolized in your body so more of it remains in circulation!

 

[SixBuckets]

Oysters are really good crumbed and deep fried.

I was vegetarian for 20 years and in good health for most of it, but towards the end I became so anemic that my hair was coming out in handfuls. As I can't take oral iron supplements either, my doctor advised that I would have to either have injections or start eating some animal products. I was pretty distressed by this, but my doc informed me that shellfish are a really effective food source for iron (mussels have six times the iron of beef). I started eating seafood once a week and my iron levels have been fine ever since.

 

[aihfl]

I was also anemic from vegetarianism and starting eating meat and seafood sparingly. Oysters are one of my favorite foods, especially oysters on the half shell garnished with grated horseradish. I also love fried oyster Po Boy sandwiches.