Lobsters are high in good fats and low in bad ones. (Sena Vidanagama/AFP/Getty Images)
Besides, lobsters provide great health benefits in addition to a delicious food experience.
Several years ago I had the good fortune to attend a cardiovascular conference in Norway and visit the Institute for Nutrition Research at the University of Oslo.
During the conference, professor Daan Krommhout, of the Institute of Public Health and the Environment in the Netherlands, reported the cardiovascular benefits of omega-3 fatty acids present in fatty fish, lobsters, scallops, and many other species of seafood. In fact, fish and other seafood are the primary source of these fats.
Professor Krommhout reported that fishermen in Japan consume 250 grams (9 ounces) of fish a day. Northern Inuit top the list at 400 grams (14 ounces) of seafood every day. Statistics show that the mortality rate from coronary heart disease is low in both the Japanese and Inuit populations.
Krommhout also detailed a study carried out in Wales, U.K. Two thousand patients with histories of previous heart attacks were divided into two groups. The group that consumed four times as much fish as the other group showed a significantly lower death rate.
Professor Christian A. Devon, with the Department of Nutrition (School of Medicine, University of Oslo), presented further evidence of the role played by omega-3 fatty acids. He described how these fats are important for visual function, particularly for the health of the retina, the part of the eye that receives images.
These fats support the development of the brain, the eyes, and the nerves. When mothers consume seafood during pregnancy or breast-feeding, their infants and young children show improved visual function, cognitive development, and other developmental outcomes.
There are several other benefits from consuming fish. Seafood provides B-vitamins and vitamin D. In fact, almost all seafood is an important source of vitamin B12, and fish is the most significant source of naturally occurring vitamin D in the Canadian diet. Many types of seafood also provide vitamins A and E.
And the list goes on, with seafood also providing many minerals, including zinc, magnesium, potassium, copper, selenium, and iodine. What may surprise many is that lobster, clams, and crab, for example are also a natural source of calcium. And most species of seafood, including lobster, are low in saturated fat and an excellent source of protein.
If you’re concerned about cholesterol, lobster is a healthy choice. Boiled or steamed lobster contains only 72 milligrams (mg) per 100 grams compared to 75 for skinless chicken breast and 200 in one large egg.
Today, with millions also fighting the battle of the bulge, lobster is an excellent meal choice. Comparing 100-gram portions, lobster contains 98 calories compared to 147 calories in both skinless chicken breast and poached eggs. Plus it has 72 percent less fat than chicken breast and 94 percent less fat than poached eggs.
Unfortunately, some people worry so much about contamination in fish products that they avoid eating any seafood. This is a concern for health professionals who know that the health benefits of increasing our seafood consumption far outweigh any risk. Health authorities around the world are recommending that we eat at least two portions (150 grams) of fish each week.
Because we live in such a tension-filled society, I also think it wise to reward yourself now and then for being good. Maybe you’ve finally given up smoking. Or made an effort to remove excess pounds. Or like me, you’ve put up with eating bran every morning for breakfast. I can hardly wait until that crate of sea creatures arrives.
For more information about the health benefits of increasing seafood consumption, see the new “Seafood and Health” Web site www.seafoodcanada.gc.ca/health. And remember to add seafood to your regular grocery list.
You might even decide to regularly order a treat from the sea, as I did from www.clearwater.ca—and what a great holiday gift.
Dr. Gifford-Jones is a medical journalist with a private medical practice in Toronto.
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