Oysters are marine life and are often eaten raw with lemon juice or Worcestershire sauce. Raw seafood poses a certain health hazard, so smoking them is a healthier option. Oysters offer a variety of vitamins and minerals, low in fat, and a smoked flavor that injects a bold taste. With sunflower oil, oysters contain more fat, but most are healthy, unsaturated fats. Once you understand the nutrients of smoked oysters in sunflower oil, you can determine if they are worthy of a place in your diet.
A smoked oyster equals 3 ounces. (Source: BWFolsom / iStock / Getty Images) Calories and fat
A 3 ounce smoked oyster contains 139 calories. The same smoked oyster contains 3.91 grams of total fat of ams and less than 1 gram of saturated fat. The remaining fat in a smoked oyster is mainly polyunsaturated fat. With 1 teaspoon of sunflower oil, your smoked oysters will add an extra 40 calories and 4.5 grams of total fat. Almost all fat in sunflower oil is polyunsaturated fat. Polyunsaturated fats may help lower cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. These fats may also reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Iron and Zinc
Smoked oysters contain large amounts of iron and zinc. Iron helps to form healthy red blood cells, supports a healthy immune system and helps cells grow. Adults need 8 to 18 mg of iron a day. A 3 ounce serving of oysters contributed 7.82 mg to the target. Zinc promotes healthy immunity and contributes to wound healing and cell division. Adults need 8 to 11 mg of zinc per day. A smoked oyster contains 28.25 mg. Sunflower oil does not contain any extra iron or zinc.
Other minerals
Although sunflower oil does not provide any minerals for oysters, oysters themselves are a healthy source of potassium, containing 257 mg requiring 4,700 mg per day. The same service also provides you with 37 mg of 310 to 420 mg of magnesium per day. Oysters provide you with 207 of the 700 mg of phosphorus a day. You get a small dose of calcium, containing 14 mg of 1000 mg you need every dayCalcium.
Vitamins
Smoked oysters and sunflower oil can provide you with key vitamins. A 3 ounce portion of smoked oysters gives you 10.9 milligrams of vitamin C and 13 micrograms of folic acid. What's more, a 3 ounce of smoked oysters can provide you with nearly 25 micrograms of vitamin B-12 - far more than the 2.4 micrograms you need every day. Vitamin B-12 is essential for red blood cell formation, nervous system function and DNA synthesis. One teaspoon of sunflower oil adds up to two of 15 mg of vitamin E per day. Vitamin E plays a role in your immune function and may help neutralize free radicals that cause cancer.
