What are oysters and what are the benefits of eating them?

Oysters are a kind of seafood. People usually recognize the role of seafood in strengthening the body. Therefore, seafood such as oysters often appear on people's tables. So, what are oysters? What are the benefits of eating oysters?

What are oysters?

Oysters are two-shelled mollusks belonging to the family Oysteridae or Oysteridae. They are found in coastal waters of temperate and tropical oceans. Oysters have been farmed for food since BC; pearls can be produced in the mantle of pearl oysters. The two shells of oysters are different in shape, with a rough, dark gray surface. The upper shell is raised in the middle; the lower shell is attached to other objects, is larger, flatter, and has smoother edges. The inside of both shells is white and smooth. The two shells are connected at the narrow end by an elastic ligament.

Oysters are a high-protein, low-fat, easily digestible and nutritious food that is rich in glycine and a sugar substance called glycogen, which are the basis of their delicious taste.

Dried oyster meat contains 45% to 57% protein, 7% to 11% fat, and 19% to 38% glycogen. In addition, it also contains a variety of vitamins, taurine, calcium, phosphorus, iron, zinc and other nutrients. The calcium content is close to that of milk, and the iron content is 21 times that of milk.

Benefits of eating raw oysters:

Raw oysters are salty and astringent, slightly cold in nature; they enter the liver, heart, and kidney meridians; they are heavy and calming, and can be dispersed or astringent; they are the only shellfish that can be eaten raw. They have the effects of calming the liver and suppressing yang, calming nerves and tranquilizing the mind, softening and dispersing lumps, and astringing and solidifying; they are mainly used to treat dizziness, tinnitus, tremors in the hands and feet, palpitations and insomnia, restlessness, epilepsy, scrofula, breast lumps, spontaneous sweating, spermatorrhea, frequent urination, metrorrhagia, leukorrhea, acid swallowing and stomach pain, eczema and ulcers.