While the exquisite and mouth-watering taste of lobster usually takes the spotlight, and rightfully so, the impressive nutritional value of lobster is usually overlooked. When lobster does receive nutritional analysis, the focus is often on its salt or cholesterol content. Thankfully, research has proven that foods with cholesterol don’t really affect our internal cholesterol levels as once believed. And even if it did, the correlation of cholesterol and disease is weakening by the day.
Much to the delight of many, modern research has put the cholesterol industry in a highly vulnerable state. For so long, it was believed that cholesterol was the most important marker for cardiovascular health. We now know that isn’t the case. In fact, it has been studied that many people that make it over the 100-year mark have high cholesterol levels. Other markers of health are far more important.
The benefits of eating this briny treasure may go far beyond its amazing taste. It is commonly known that most of us lack many different nutrients in our diets. Oftentimes, nutrient deficiencies can get to the point of causing chronic health problems. In fact, they’re usually one of the main culprits in many different diseases and are often neglected by the medical system.
Consuming a steady diet of nutrient dense foods is a fantastic way to positively impact many different health conditions. Although lobster may not be the most cost-feasible way to satisfy those deficiencies, it should help make your next lobster dinner taste even more amazing.
Choline
Lobster is a potent source of this sometimes overlooked, but critical nutrient. Data taken from the NHANES evaluations shows that over 90% of Americans don’t get nearly enough choline on a daily basis. This number decreases even more with age, which may partially explain cognitive decline. Choline is an incredibly critical building block for brain function, memory, muscle control, liver health, heart health, cell membranes, and much more.
B-12
Although lobster won’t provide the boost of a B-12 shot, it contains a respectable amount to power you through the day. Many people around the world are lacking B-12, so any food source that is rich in it is valuable. Since B-12 is water-soluble and not stored, we need a constant supply. A 6-oz portion of wild lobster contains over 80% of the daily B-12 requirements.
Zinc
Zinc deficiencies can take a massive toll on the human body when supplies are low for many years. This is due to the multitude of tasks it’s needed for on a daily basis. A moderate serving of lobster supplies around 30-50% of our daily needs for zinc. Obviously, supplementation is needed if deficiencies are present. If not, let lobster be your upgraded multi-vitamin for the day.
Selenium
Did you know that selenium helps you fight viruses and other infections? Studies show a good daily supply of selenium creates specific proteins in the body which can lead to better outcomes when battling infections. Lobster supplies an excellent dose of selenium. A 120-gram portion supplies nearly a full day’s worth of selenium.
Nutritional Value of Lobster: Valuable Source of Lean Protein
Lobster is extremely low in saturated fat and packed with lean protein. While the studies on saturated fat are controversial, lobster is a great source of protein if you’re looking to cut down on your intake. A moderate portion of lobster supplies half a day’s requirements in protein for women and around 40% for men. In fact, per calorie, lobster contains one of the highest quantities of protein in the world. A serving of lobster containing only 100 calories boasts a whopping 20 grams of protein! Again, proving the overlooked nutritional value of lobster.
In addition to the nutrients mentioned above, lobster provides the body with copper, magnesium, b-5, b-6, vitamin E, omega-3 fatty acids, phosphorus, calcium, iodine, potassium, chloride, and more. If you’re worried about the sodium content, don’t be! It is more than okay to have a diet with moderate amounts of sodium as long as potassium, magnesium, and taurine intake are sufficient.
Many of the problems that are notoriously blamed on sodium are actually due to low levels of these other nutrients. A typical serving of lobster only contains around 20-25% of the daily sodium recommendation. Nothing worthy of disturbing the pure joy of your next lobster dinner. So sit back, relax, and get your bib fastened tight.
References:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2518394/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6024687/