| In our modern day, it seems that nearly everything we | | | | clams, crabs, mussels and sea urchins. Lobsters do eat |
| eat carries the risk of being unhealthy. Eating fish has | | | | dead bait in traps, but humans eat dead fish too! Ask |
| known health benefits, yet some species of fish may | | | | any lobsterman, and they will tell you: the fresher the |
| contain unsafe levels of mercury and PCB's. Eating | | | | bait, the better it will "fish." This is trade language which, |
| fresh fruit is known to be healthy, yet many fruits are | | | | when translated, means that if you put fresh bait in |
| sprayed with chemical pesticides the residues of which | | | | your traps it will attract more lobsters. Old bait does |
| are of questionable risk. The same can be said of | | | | not attract many lobsters at all. |
| vegetables. | | | | When fish gets old and borderline saleable at a |
| Whether the above mentioned food items are healthy | | | | seafood market, it begins to emit an ammonia smell. At |
| or unhealthy is beyond the scope of this article. It does | | | | that point, which can be about 5 to 7 days after being |
| point out, though, that the debate continues on which | | | | caught, it is no longer appealing to humans. It is the |
| foods contribute to good health, and which foods pose | | | | same for lobsters. They prefer live, fresh food, but will |
| a health risk. This article will present information for the | | | | eat dead bait in traps if it is fresh and not old. |
| reader to determine which camp lobster belongs in: | | | | This last argument against lobster as a healthy food is |
| healthy or unhealthy. | | | | the weakest and not based upon fact at all, but rather |
| Let's start with the few arguments that put forth the | | | | on fallacy: lobsters eat primarily live food, not decaying, |
| case that lobster is unhealthy. There are not many. | | | | rotting dead fish. |
| We've read that one doctor advises against eating | | | | Now we'll look at the factors in favor of lobster being |
| lobster because it may contain parasites and viruses. | | | | a healthy food. |
| Nothing like pointing out the obvious. Every living | | | | There are several health reasons that lobster should |
| creature on Earth may contain parasites and viruses, | | | | be eaten. The first comes from the American Heart |
| which is why any animal-based food product should be | | | | Associations Page on Fish and Omega-3 Fatty Acids |
| cooked before being eaten. Cooking eliminates this risk. | | | | which recommends eating fish at least 2 times per |
| One risk that cooking will not eliminate is excess levels | | | | week. A quote from the American Heart Association |
| of mercury. No matter how much you cook any fish | | | | is worth sharing here, "Fish is a good source of protein |
| or seafood item, it will not remove mercury. | | | | and doesn't have the high saturated fat that fatty |
| How much mercury does lobster have? Before we | | | | meat products do." |
| answer that question, we need to look a little at | | | | Lobster is indeed an excellent source of lean protein. |
| mercury and the reasons it is in seafood to begin with. | | | | 100 grams of lobster meat contains 98 calories, 21 |
| The FDA states in their report "What you need to | | | | grams of protein, and only 0.6 grams of fat. Contrast |
| know about mercury in fish and shellfish" that "nearly all | | | | that to 100 grams of white, skinless chicken meat |
| fish and shellfish contain traces of mercury" and that | | | | which has 168 calories, 31 grams of protein, and 3.6 |
| "Mercury occurs naturally in the environment and can | | | | grams of fat. Gram for gram, even skinless chicken |
| also be released into the air through industrial pollution. | | | | contains in excess of 500% more fat than lobster. |
| Mercury falls from the air and can accumulate in | | | | Lean beef contains more than 10 times as much fat |
| streams and oceans." | | | | as lobster. Obviously, lobster is an excellent source of |
| What can be gleaned from this report are two facts. | | | | lean protein. |
| One, that all fish and shellfish contain traces of | | | | Lobster is more than just a lean source of protein. |
| mercury. Two, Mercury occurs naturally as well. If | | | | Lobster also contains Omega-3 fatty acids, which are |
| mercury occurs naturally, it is probably safe to assume | | | | associated with good heart health. There are several |
| that all fish and shellfish have always contained traces | | | | valuable benefits from a diet which regularly contains |
| of mercury. Which begs the question: are mercury | | | | Omega-3 fatty acids. Again quoting from the |
| levels in fish and shellfish any higher now than they | | | | American Heart Association, "The ways that omega-3 |
| were 50 or 100 years ago? The answer is that | | | | fatty acids reduce CVD (cardio-vascular disease) risk |
| scientists do no know for sure, as tests for mercury in | | | | are still being studied. However, research has shown |
| fish were not done back then. Regardless, the FDA | | | | that they decrease risk of arrhythmias, which can lead |
| lists four fish varieties that have higher level of | | | | to sudden cardiac death, decrease triglyceride levels, |
| mercury than all others: shark, swordfish, king mackerel, | | | | decrease growth rate of atherosclerotic plaque, and |
| and tilefish. They also list five that are very low in | | | | lower blood pressure (slightly)." The report further |
| mercury: shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, pollock and | | | | states, "Large-scale epidemiologic studies suggest that |
| catfish. Lobster is closer to the 5 on the low end than | | | | people at risk for coronary heart disease benefit from |
| the 4 on the high end. | | | | consuming omega-3 fatty acids from plants and |
| Even the 4 fish varieties that have higher levels of | | | | marine sources." |
| mercury are safe to eat in moderation for all people | | | | Lobster does not contain as much Omega-3 fatty |
| other than pregnant mothers, and mothers nursing | | | | acids as salmon, which has the highest content, but is a |
| infant children. It is only these 4 varieties that should be | | | | good source nonetheless. |
| avoided in the two circumstances just mentioned. | | | | In summary, lobster is high in protein, extremely low in |
| Lobster is not included in the list of fish to avoid when | | | | fat, is a beneficial source of Omega-3 fatty acids |
| pregnant. | | | | which are healthy for the heart and reduce the growth |
| The final argument against lobster that we have heard | | | | rate of plaque. Lobsters feed primarily on live food: fish, |
| is not based on science at all. The argument is that | | | | crabs, clams and mussels. Lobster have a very |
| lobsters are bottom feeders and eat decaying and | | | | healthy diet which would be beneficial to humans, not |
| rotting fish that sink to the bottom. The logic of the | | | | harmful to them. |
| argument is that since lobsters are eating these things | | | | There you have the arguments for and against lobster |
| that aren't healthy for people, people shouldn't be | | | | as a healthy food source. The evidence suggests |
| eating lobsters. The problem with this argument is that | | | | lobster is a very healthy food choice. Not only is it very |
| it is not based on facts. The fact is that lobsters eat | | | | healthy, it tastes absolutely extravagant. Enjoy your |
| mainly live food. Their primary diet consists of live fish, | | | | lobster! |