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