This section has information on shellfish including oysters, clams, mussels, scallops, conch, whelk and more.
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By daybreak
Published: September 6, 2008
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By daybreak
Published: April 13, 2008
Updated: August 7, 2008
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By Barbera Turnbull (Florida Seafood)
Published: March 12, 2007
Updated: August 7, 2008
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By daybreak
Published: March 3, 2007
Updated: August 7, 2008
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By By B. SixWise
Published: February 8, 2007
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EmailIt has been considered common knowledge for eons upon eons: oysters make great aphrodisiacs.
But do these sea creatures truly hold the power to, well, titillate in that way? Where did the notion come from? And should you be eating oysters at all?
What Exactly are Aphrodisiacs?
An aphrodisiac is an agent that is said to arouse or increase one's sexual desire. They can be a food, drink, drug, or scent that (their promoters claim) elicits desire and arousal, enhances one's drive and "performance," and extends sexual energy.
For thousands of years, certain foods and drinks have been labeled as aphrodisiacs.
In fact, aphrodisiacs were first sought out as a remedy for several sexual anxieties, including fears of inadequate performance or the need to increase fertility. Procreation was an important moral and religious issue and aphrodisiacs were sought to ensure both the male and female potency.
It was rumored that Casanova ate over 50 raw oysters a day to boost his libido. Their most classic preparation is raw, also known as "on the half shell," when they are supposedly their most potent.
Why Oysters?
Oysters have been linked with love and sexuality for thousands of years.
The word "aphrodisiac" was born when Aphrodite, the Greed goddess of love, sprang forth from the sea on an oyster shell and promptly gave birth to Eros. Because Aphrodite was said to be born from the sea, many types of seafood have reputations as aphrodisiacs.
Many ancient people believed in the so-called "law of similarity," reasoning that an object resembling genitalia may possess sexual powers. Ginseng, rhinoceros horn, and oysters are three classical examples.
Back in second century A.D., a satire by Juvenal, a Roman satirist, mentioned that the Romans documented oysters as an aphrodisiac food. In fact, Juvenal wrote about the reckless ways of women after they had ingested wine and ate "giant oysters."
It is further noted that some believe oysters gained their reputation at a time when their contribution of zinc to the nutritionally deficient diets of the day could improve overall health and therefore lead to an increased sex drive.
Are Oysters Really an Aphrodisiac?
According to the Food and Drug Administration, the reputed sexual effects of so-called aphrodisiacs are based in folklore, not fact.
This topic has been reviewed and disputed by many scientists. However, to date there is no known scientific proof stating that any supposed "aphrodisiac" actually results in an increase of sexual desire.
Oysters are one of the most nutritionally well balanced of foods, containing protein, carbohydrates and lipids. The National Heart and Lung Institute suggest oysters as an ideal food for inclusion in low-cholesterol diets. They are an excellent source of vitamins A, B1(thiamin), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), C ( ascorbic acid) and D (calciferol).
Nope, not even oysters.
According to John Renner, founder of the Consumer Health Information Research Institute (CHIRI) "The mind is the most potent aphrodisiac there is. It's very difficult to evaluate something someone is taking because if you tell them it's an aphrodisiac, the hope of a certain response might actually lead to an additional sexual reaction."
In the case of oysters, chemical analysis shows that it consists of water, protein and carbohydrates, plus small amounts of fat, sugar and minerals. None of these components are known to affect sex drive or performance.
The psychological impact of believing that oysters are aphrodisiacs is sometimes strong enough to produce, at least temporarily, greater sexual desire or performance. The experience of enhanced arousal or performance is then falsely attributed to the wonder food, and this discovery is passed on to the next person wishing to experience new heights of sexual experience.
Oyster Facts
Oysters may not cause sexual desire or love, but many people have certainly fallen in love with oysters. They are eaten raw, smoked, boiled, baked, fried, roasted, stewed, canned, pickled, steamed, and broiled (grilled).
Because they are found in the ocean, they can be an expensive food in places where they aren't harvested. In fact, they must be flown in daily to areas such as the Midwest because fresh oysters must be alive just before consumption. They must be tightly closed; oysters that are already open are dead and must be discarded.
Though ensuring they are clean and fresh is essential, healthy oysters can be a healthy choice for those who choose to eat them. Oysters are extremely low in calories -- one dozen raw oysters contain approximately 110 calories -- and are full of vitamins and minerals like A, B1, B2 ,C and D, calcium, iodine, iron, potassium, copper, sodium, zinc, phosphorous, manganese and sulphur and the all-important omega-3 fatty acids.
About the Author: This article was provided by the world's #1 most popular and trusted holistic living e-newsletter -- FREE to you right now at http://www.SixWise.com! The old way of thinking: "holistic living" pertains only to personal health. The new way of thinking: "holistic living" means prevention of the negative and adherence to the positive in all SIX practical areas of life: relationships, finances, career, home environment, safety and health. With the http://SixWise.com e-newsletter, you will get holistic wisdom from the world's top experts in all six of these areas -- completely FREE with a simple sign-up (and a guaranteed no-spam policy!) at http://www.SixWise.com.
Source: www.isnare.com
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By daybreak
Published: January 26, 2007
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EmailSea scallops are popular seafood items. Prized by cooks and diners, they are considered by many to be the most appealing of the shellfish. The premium products among scallops are the largest specimens, which have a delicate flavor and tender texture. Scallops are at their peak flavor when fresh, but may also be frozen.
Scallops are bivalve mollusks. Various members of the scallop family are found worldwide. The edible portion is the adductor muscle of scallops. The muscle is larger and more developed than most shellfish because they are active swimmers. Scallop shells are symmetrical, attractive and highly collected by sea shell enthusiasts. Scallops can swim by rapidly opening and closing their shells. This method of propulsion is used as a escape technique when threatened.
Commercial Scallop Harvesting
Scallops thrive off the mid and North Atlantic Coast of North America. Here scallops are found in offshore waters out to the continental slope. Ports that are important to the scallop industry range from Glouster, Massachusetts down to Virginia Beach, Virginia. Cape May, New Jersey, Chincoteague Island Virginia and Virginia Beach all have active fleets of scallop boats. Scallops are trawled or dredged, and quickly returned to port or shucked at sea and kept on ice for the trip ashore. The commercial scallop fishery in the USA is heavily regulated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Cooking Scallops
Scallops are prepared in a variety of ways. Their delicate flavor and texture allow for a variety of cooking methods. They can be easily breaded and fried, sautéed, broiled or used in seafood soups, stews, chowders or salads. One of the most popular recipes calls for scallops to be wrapped in bacon, then broiled.
The scallops' versatility in taste lends itself well to various cuisines from around the world. In addition to American dishes, sea scallops are a frequent ingredient of Asian, Mediterranean and South American cuisine. Japanese cooking utilizes scallops in sashimi and sushi dishes as well as using the scallop roe as an ingredient.
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