Why we avoid it:

People either love them or hate them — there’s no in between. They look like giant gobs of snot swimming in seawater.

Why we should eat it:

Oysters are the richest source of zinc you can find, which is likely why they have the reputation of being an aphrodisiac. Zinc is a key mineral for sperm production and sexual health in men. A bad zinc deficiency can lead to impotence. Libido might also be affected by eating oysters because of their cholesterol content that can be used as building blocks for the production of testosterone and estrogen. In addition, oysters are an excellent source of lean protein, and certain amino acids — like branched chain lysine, leucine and isoleucine — have been found to actually increase sex hormone levels.

Oysters’ reputation may indeed have a scientific basis after all. Apart from promoting sexual virility, zinc is crucial for proper growth and development, wound healing and proper immune health. As sea creatures, they’re naturally high in omega-3 fatty acids, potassium, magnesium and vitamin E — basically everything you need to ensure reduced cholesterol levels, reduced inflammation and reduced risk of heart disease. Recent studies also suggest that oysters may be useful in fighting cancer. Oysters contain interesting antiviral properties that were found to prevent tumors from forming over a long period of time. Enjoy them boiled, steamed or fried, but you really need to try them raw on the half shell with lemon, garlic and Tabasco. There’s nothing more romantic than slurping down a whole raw body of a sea creature.