Firm yet incredibly tender, delicious and healthy — that is my personal opinion of oysters. Oddly enough, however, not everyone shares it. Certainly not my family. And that is a pity, because this magical seafood truly is an elixir of youth: it not only slows the skin ageing process, but also significantly improves the condition of the hair, making it silky and shiny. The benefits are obvious, but the fact that oysters are usually eaten raw is not to everyone’s taste.

As it happened, I could not find any red caviar anywhere for New Year’s Eve, so I decided to buy oysters for the winter holidays instead — especially as no one else in my family had tried them at that point. And since I was absolutely delighted with them, it did not even occur to me that they might be an unpopular dish for some people. Of course, I knew that not everyone likes this mollusc, so I warned my small family in advance. Yet when, after enjoying this delicate seafood once again, I finally offered it to my family to try, their reaction stunned me — each of them grimaced as if they had eaten a cuttlefish rather than an oyster. Although, to be fair, it is not certain that they would have reacted the same way to cuttlefish — neither I nor my loved ones have ever tried it. At least, not yet.

But in any case, since we have started talking about these appetising and rather expensive seafood delicacies, let us take a closer look at their composition and health benefits. Oysters are rich in vitamins — both fat-soluble vitamins (A and D) and vitamins C and B — as well as zinc, iodine, iron, phosphorus and calcium. The Omega-3 fatty acids they contain are a real boon for the heart and blood vessels. This delicacy is also high in protein — about 11% — while containing relatively few carbohydrates (around 6%) and only about 2% fat. Combined with the low calorie content, this makes oysters a welcome addition to almost any diet.

It is therefore not surprising that eating oysters not only improves metabolism and strengthens the immune system, but also contributes to the optimal functioning of the cardiovascular system, kidneys and even the liver. And the fact that this wonderful elixir of youth is also considered an aphrodisiac makes it all the more appealing. It is a little pricey, of course, but well worth it. Incidentally, in some parts of England oysters are even cheaper than in Ukraine — perhaps because the seas and bays are everywhere you look, so the freshest seafood is always close at hand.

So that is our article for today — delicate, beneficial and very, very tasty.