Is Lobster Healthy Food?

Lobster is often considered a luxury item on the menu, but perhaps it should be included in your diet more often. You can purchase frozen lobster tails at your local supermarket or at a fish market. You can eat lobster meat plain or add it to soups or salads. It contains several essential nutrients.

Protein

You need adequate amounts of protein in your diet because it ensures that all your body systems function properly. Lobster is a good source of protein with about 20 g in each 3-oz. serving. According to "The Encyclopedia of Healing Foods," Atlantic lobster is one of the leanest meat sources of protein available because it provides a good dose without being high in saturated fat. A serving of lobster weighs in at less than 1 g of fat.

Vitamins

There are numerous vitamins present in just one 3-oz. serving of lobster meat. A serving of lobster supplies about 6 percent of the vitamin E you need in your daily diet. Vitamin E in your diet may help reduce your heart disease risk. Lobster is also a rich source of vitamin B-12, supplying 45 percent of the daily value in just one serving. Vitamin B-12 is important for red blood cell production, formation of DNA and healthy nerve cells. Other vitamins are present in smaller amounts including vitamin A and vitamin B-6.

Minerals

There are also many different minerals in lobster that support your health. A 3-oz. serving of lobster supplies 6 percent of the daily value for calcium, as well as 2 percent of the iron your body requires. A serving of lobster also supplies 80 percent of the daily value for copper. You need plenty of copper in your diet to properly absorb iron and help your body convert food to energy. Other minerals found in lobster include selenium, magnesium, potassium and zinc.

Disease Prevention

A diet rich in low-fat and nutrient-dense foods, like lobster, can decrease your risk of certain illnesses and diseases. According to "The Encyclopedia of Healing Foods," lobster may have some additional disease preventative benefits. A diet that includes lobster may reduce your risk of heart disease. Lobster contains omega-3 fatty acids, which have been shown to decrease heart disease risk when eaten regularly. The nutrients in lobster may offer you protection against Alzheimer's disease and certain types of cancer as well.