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