Are oysters really aphrodisiacs?

Short and sweet, YES!

Although, the Smithsonian Magazine doesn’t quite agree as to desire being measurable.

I like this compilation of the definition by wikipedia.org.

“An aphrodisiac is a substance that increases sexual desire, sexual pleasure, or sexual behavior. Substances range from a variety of plants, spices, foods, and synthetic chemicals. Therefore, they can be classified by their chemical properties (i.e., substances that are natural and unnatural). Natural aphrodisiacs like alcohol are further classified into plant-based and non-plant-based substances.”

The amount of Zinc found in oysters help men produce healthy sperm. So if you are wanting to multiple your love this Valentine’s Day, I suggest indulging in some oysters with your lover. Zinc does SO much more for you; read more in a previous post on Zinc and Copper found in oysters.

Oysters also contain a couple of very important hormones. One of my favorites: dopamine! No wonder we feel so good and happy after eating a dozen fresh oysters. More please! The other hormone is an amino acid called D-aspartic which is said to increase sex hormones, specifically testosterone in men.

In summary, if you need a boost of happiness or to smooth over a quarrel with your partner, find your closest oyster bar or give us a call! We would love to shuck oysters for you outside your home!

Wishing you all the love and most importantly let’s share the love. Let’s share love America, not amplify the negative or wrong-doings of others. Let’s forgive, yet remember, and let’s love, yet grow better…together? Yes, together.

Happy Valentine’s Day from your bi-valve friends at Aphrodite Oysters!

XoXoXo

Sources: Smithsonian Magazine, GlobalSeafoods.com, Houston Chronicle, Aphrodite Oyster shuckers and more

COVID-19, Farmer's Market, Oyster Omega-3 and Cholesterol

Umm, COVID-19 why are you still here!? I know we are all asking ourselves this question as it is the middle of our hot Texas summer, entering August of 2020! We are sweating in face masks, seeking sanctuary from cool watering holes (or the garden hose), and debating whether man-kind should of ever created the existence of ‘virtual’. I mean, living in straw huts, drinking from coconuts, and welding swords on horseback doesn’t sound so terrible right now. Escape with us…

Aphrodite Oysters has now gone to market in our local community to bring some salty air safely from the sea. We are excited to be a part of Austin’s original Barton Creek Farmers Market. Please stop by for some sweet, salty kisses from the sea on Saturdays from 9-1 pm at the Barton Creek Mall.

In continuation of our Oyster Nutrition Series, oysters provide a super immune boost and here’s how:

It’s simple, one gram daily of Omega-3’s cuts your risk of heart attack in half! Omega-3’s fight depression, reduce ADHD, asthma, and help children learn; Omega 3’s fight Alzheimer’s, auto-immune diseases, improve mental disorders, aid sleep, and so much more. Need we say more on why you should eat oysters?!

Oh, and there has been a myth that seafood is high in cholesterol. This was before we understood there was good and bad cholesterol. Oysters don’t contain it and only shrimp & squid are truly high in cholesterol.

One dozen oysters provides a gram of Omega-3 Fatty Acids.

Stay healthy Texans and slurp up the sea of immunity with us!

Post 6 of 6 in the Oyster Nutrition Series

Sources: Understanding Food: Principles and Preparation, Amy Brown 2nd Edition; Macrobiotic Diet by Michio and Aveline Kushi; The Geography of Oysters: The Connoisseur’s Guide to Oyster Eating in North America by Rowen Jacobson; https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/oysters#benefits; https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/17-health-benefits-of-omega-3

Selenium Fights the Corona-virus

Oyster Nutrition: Selenium

It is almost May 2020 and the country is still on lock-down from the COVID-19 Corona-virus. Over one million cases in the United States and Governors are beginning to slowly re-open businesses. The world returning to normalcy is very much so welcomed yet dangerous. Keeping our immune systems in check is more important than ever and oysters can help you maintain healthy levels.

What is Selenium?

Selenium functions as a potent antioxidant. Selenium helps the body produce special proteins called antioxidant enzymes. These keep your white blood cells strong and fight off cell aging and damage such as a virus attaching like the corona-virus where it changes your cells. More selenium benefits:

• Like all antioxidants selenium is an anti-inflammatory. Many diseases are a result of inflammation like the progression of diabetes, MS, ALS, etc.

• Helps alleviate thyroid problems by converting the less active thyroid hormone into one our body can use.

• Protects your heart by decreasing the risk of blood clotting, reducing your bad cholesterol levels and increasing your good cholesterol level. WOW!

• Fights against free radical damage and cancer, as studies have shown that the amount of deaths due to cancer are less in those that have adequate levels of selenium.

Selenium also reduces dandruff and increases male fertility! Now these are great reasons as to why oysters are considered aphrodisiacs!!

Oysters are high in selenium and other pertinent nutrients to keep our immune systems strong. So pat yourself on the back the next dozen oysters your slurp down. Eat smart. #EatMoreOysters

Post 4 of 6 in the Oyster Nutrition Series

Sources: Understanding Food: Principles and Preparation, Amy Brown 2nd Edition; Macrobiotic Diet by Michio and Aveline Kushi; The Geography of Oysters: The Connoisseur’s Guide to Oyster Eating in North America by Rowen Jacobson; https://www.healthambition.com/health-benefits-of-selenium/

*Selenium alone will not prevent COVID-19. Consult a physician.

Protein-rich Oysters Provide the Good Fats

Oyster Nutrition: Fat

What is fat?

Fats or Lipids are either solid = saturated or liquid = unsaturated. Solid lipids contain more saturated fatty acids which are long chains of carbon and hydrogen atoms with one oxygen molecule at the end. Unsaturated fatty acids are missing one hydrogen pair and polyunsaturated are missing more. Insoluble fats in water require the liver to produce bile for digesting these bad fats.

Our bodies need fats for the digestive system to function but they can be very harmful. This is where high cholesterol comes into play, too many bad saturated fats leads to excess cholesterol which are then deposited onto our artery walls, reduces blood flow, and ultimately resulting in heart attacks and strokes.

Oyster Fat

These glorious protein-rich oysters come packing the good fats! Like olive oil, unsaturated fats provide many benefits such as reducing blood pressure and cholesterol. Most seafood are predominately protein and could not survive in cold waters if their fats were solid or saturated.

One medium east coast raw oyster, around 3.5 ounces provides 3 grams of fat. That means a dozen oysters provide 36 grams of fat. So, if you consume 1,500 calories on your weight-loss diet, you'll want between 42 and 58 grams of fat daily;, whereas a person eating 2,000 calories would consume between 56 and 78 grams of fat.

Oysters are the best source of protein with the good fats. Eat smart. #EatMoreOysters

Post 4 of 6 in the Oyster Nutrition Series

Sources: Understanding Food: Principles and Preparation, Amy Brown 2nd Edition; Macrobiotic Diet by Michio and Aveline Kushi; The Geography of Oysters: The Connoisseur’s Guide to Oyster Eating in North America by Rowen Jacobson

Oysters Pack a Protein Punch

Oyster Nutrition: Protein

What is protein?

“Prime importance” is the Greek meaning of protein. We would not exist without hydration, muscle, hair, and nails - this is why protein is necessary. I guess we would be like a sea anemone without protein…ah, bad sea joke! Shellfish and other animal products are the best source of complete proteins. Beans actually have the highest value as a protein source yet they are considered incomplete. They are incomplete because they lack some amino acids which there are 22 total. We require 9 amino acids daily in our diet.

Oyster Protein

Unlike that delicious rib-eye steak you love to grill, oysters are a fantastic protein rich food without the saturated fats. You know, the bad fats, the ones we have to diet from when we get older because of that high cholesterol and heart disease risk.

One medium raw oyster, around 3 ounces provides 5 grams of protein; so an average Gulf oyster provides around 7 grams of protein. It is recommended for an adult woman to have 46 grams of protein a day and 56 grams for men on average. That means a dozen oysters meets your daily requirements without artery clogging fats AND also provide so many more nutritious vitamins and minerals!

Protein load with these bad boys for your pre/post-workout to build your bodies’ beautiful muscles, grow gorgeous hair, and maintain that brain in the cave. Eat smart. #EatMoreOysters

Post 3 of 6 in the Oyster Nutrition Series

Sources: Understanding Food: Principles and Preparation, Amy Brown 2nd Edition; Macrobiotic Diet by Michio and Aveline Kushi; The Geography of Oysters: The Connoisseur’s Guide to Oyster Eating in North America by Rowen Jacobson

Oyster Nutrition Series Introduction →

Year 2020, A New Normal - COVID-19

First, Aphrodite would like to remind you how important each and every one of you are, and extend well wishes to you and your loved ones.

We are well into the “new normal” here in the United States as the Corona Virus reigns control over our everyday actions. We have taken this time to ‘fast’ from blogging and social media and focus on the heart of home. We are all affected and our prayers go out to you everyday. It amazes me to see the innovations and implementations of my fellow event industry friends; I commend you. Truly, you all are amazing! Aphrodite Oysters is so specialized and we understand oysters may not be the first food on your Stay Home delivery list, yet we would like to share how beneficial oysters are for your health.

We are are going to focus our next blog posts on the nutrition details of oysters. We hope you enjoy this Oyster Nutrition Series by Aphrodite!

I love the nutrition oyster diagram I have pictured here, created by our oyster farm friends in Duxbury, Massachusetts. Thank you Island Creek Oysters! Friends, please make sure to request these oysters in your next delivery order. Xoxo, Aphrodite Love