What are you making for New Year’s Eve dinner? Anything new? Or traditional? We have a wonderful traditional recipe to help you usher in the New Year and stay in the Keto Zone. Try our Keto Oyster Stew for New Year’s Eve!
You’ll also learn 7 amazing health benefits of oysters.
Keto Oyster Stew for New Year’s Eve
Ingredients
- 16 ounces fresh Oysters shucked, in liquid (or 2 cans of oysters)
- 1/4 cup organic grass-fed butter or ghee
- 1 large yellow onion, chopped
- 1 teaspoon organic or high-quality celery sea salt
- 1/8 teaspoon white pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon paprika
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 2 cups non-dairy milk such as almond milk
- 1 sprigs fresh thyme
- 8 teaspoons grass-fed butter (optional)
- Parsely (optional)
Instructions
- Drain the oysters, whether fresh or canned, and reserve the liquid.
- Set butter in a heavy-pot to heat on medium heat. Add onions, cook for 5 minutes. Add oysters, celery salt, white pepper, and paprika. Saute for 3-5 minutes or until oysters are curled. Stir constantly.
- Add reserved liquid, cream, milk, and thyme. Stir constantly and simmer for 5 minutes.
- Remove thyme and serve. Add a teaspoon butter to each bowl and garnish with parsley (optional). Makes 8 servings, about 3/4 cup each.
Nutrition info (3/4 cup): 142 calories, 13 grams fat, 3 grams carbohydrates, 1 gram fiber, (2 grams net carbs), 3 grams protein
Why Eat Oysters? 7 Dynamite Health Benefits of Oysters
The meat of oysters is highly nutritious and offers many health benefits. Here are the top 7.
1. Potent Nutrition without the Carbohydrates
Every 3.5 ounces provides (1):
- Only 68 calories
- Only 3.5 grams carbohydrates
- 7 grams protein
- 3 grams heart-healthy fats
- 80% of RDI vitamin D
- 7% RDI Thiamine (Vitamin B1)
- 7% RDI Niacin (Vitamin B3)
- 324% RDI Vitamin B12
- 37% RDI Iron
- 12% RDI Magnesium
- 14% RDI Phosphorus
- 605% RDI Zinc
- 223% RDI Copper
- 18% RDI Manganese
- 91% RDI Selenium
This combination of nutrients makes oysters unique even among seafood. Here’s more.
2. Heart-Healthy and Brain-Healthy Omega-3 Fats
There are not many foods that provide significant amounts of zinc, copper, and iron, and selenium. Here’s what each can do in your body, and why eating Keto Oyster Stew this New Year will start your health on the right path.
- Copper. Some of the most important functions of copper are cellular respiration, cellular utilization of oxygen, DNA and RNA reproduction, maintenance of cell membrane integrity, and the neutralization of free radicals (5).
- Zinc. Zinc is crucial to the immune system. It also impacts metabolism and cell growth. Amazingly, every serving of oysters provides over 600% of the RDI of zinc (6)!
- Selenium. Selenium supports thyroid health and metabolism. What’s more, selenium is an antioxidant that protects cells and reduces oxidative stress (7).
- Iron. Iron is crucial for hemoglobin and myoglobin production. These proteins carry oxygen throughout their bodies (8).
Why are antioxidants in minerals important? Research shows that diets rich in antioxidants lower the risk of heart disease, diabetes, certain cancers, and all-cause mortality (9).
5. Vitamin D for Immune Function and More
Another important vitamin in Keto Oyster Stew?
Vitamin D. Vitamin D is absolutely essential for immune function, cellular growth, and bone health and more. In fact, Vitamin D directly supports the immune system (12) since it:
- Increases the production of disease-fighting cytokines
- Amplifies the recognition of viruses and bacteria
- Improves the body’s anti-microbial activity
- Supports the disruption of bacterial membranes and virus replication
6. High-Quality Protein Source
Like other high-protein foods, oysters provide amino acids that help cells rebuild and repair themselves. What’s more, protein helps you feel fuller and helps stabilize hormones (13).
In fact, studies show that protein supports healthy blood sugars and blood sugar control in those with type 2 diabetes (14).
7. Oysters Provide A Unique Antioxidant
Have you ever heard of 3,5-Dihydroxy-4-methoxybenzyl alcohol (DHMBA)? If not, you’re not alone. It’s a unique and powerful antioxidant found in oysters.
DHMBA has been found to be 15 times more powerful in fighting oxidative stress than synthetic forms of vitamin E (often regarded as a great choice to prevent damage caused by oxidative stress (15). It may specifically benefit liver health.
What’s more, DHMBA is great at reducing the oxidation of LDL cholesterol and reducing its atherosclerosis (16).
Potential Issues
What’s more, seafood is subject to environmental contaminants and heavy metals like lead, cadmium, and mercury (18).
If you have a compromised immune system or are a pregnant or breastfeeding woman, it’s best to avoid raw oysters and seafood.
Bottom Line
There are many health benefits of oysters, and our Keto Oyster Stew is a great way to usher in the New Year. From its unique and significant amount of antioxidants to vitamin minerals and vitamins, oysters are a delicious and potent source of nutrition.
