Oysters are one of the most popular seafood treats out there. Their briny flavor and silky texture make them irresistible, especially when paired with a crisp glass of white wine or bubbly. But some old wives’ tales suggest that eating oysters late at night may be unhealthy or even dangerous. Is there any truth to this?
As oyster aficionados we needed to dig up the details on this urban legend. We researched all the health and safety implications of consuming these mollusks after dark. Keep reading to get the real scoop on oysters at night so you can enjoy worry-free!
Why Do People Say Eating Oysters at Night is Bad?
Most warnings against nocturnal oyster eating come down to two key concerns:
1, Digestion Issues
Oysters are hard for some people to digest due to their high zinc content. Some believe eating them close to bedtime makes digestive troubles even worse. The idea is you need to be upright and active to properly digest oysters.
2. Food Safety
Others argue that eating raw oysters at night increases the risk of food poisoning. Their logic is lower body temperature plus a sluggish metabolism during sleep makes it easier to get sick.
But are either of these claims really rooted in scientific fact? Let’s analyze each in more detail.
Do Oysters Disrupt Your Sleep by Causing Indigestion?
It’s true that oysters contain compounds that may create digestive discomfort in some folks, especially when eaten in excess. But there’s no evidence that the time of day changes how your body handles oysters.
Here are the facts:
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Zinc – Oysters contain more zinc than any other food, up to 193% of your RDA per serving. In excess, zinc can cause nausea and other stomach issues. But your body regulates absorption to avoid toxicity.
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Shellfish proteins – Some people lack the digestive enzymes needed to process proteins in shellfish. This can cause bloating, gas, and indigestion. Time of consumption does not affect your enzyme levels.
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Heavy meals – Any large, rich meal right before bed may potentially disrupt sleep. But a light oyster appetizer is unlikely to cause this effect.
So while oysters may bring digestive discomfort to some people, there’s no evidence that eating them at night is worse than during the day. Moderation is key.
Does Eating Raw Oysters at Night Increase Food Poisoning Risk?
Next up: the idea that nighttime oyster eating ups your odds of foodborne illness. This belief is based on a few assumptions:
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Your immune system is weakened at night, so your body can’t fight off pathogens as well. But in reality, your immune function remains active 24/7.
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Your metabolism slows down while sleeping, potentially allowing bacteria to multiply faster. Yet your resting metabolism has minimal effect on foodborne bacteria over a typical digestion period.
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Your body temperature drops at night, creating better conditions for bacterial growth. However, the human body remains at an average of 97-99°F even during sleep – still inhospitable to most dangerous pathogens.
The reality is raw oysters carry the same minimal risks day or night if handled properly. Here are the key food safety tips to follow:
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Only consume raw oysters from reputable, licensed sources.
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Check that shells are tightly closed prior to shucking, which indicates they’re alive and fresh.
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Discard any with broken shells or an off smell or appearance.
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Store raw oysters correctly at under 40°F.
Adhering to basic food safety practices is far more important than time of consumption when it comes to raw shellfish.
Tips for Healthy Oyster Enjoyment Day or Night
Now that we’ve debunked the myths, here are our top tips for safely savoring oysters whenever the craving strikes:
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Stick to 6 medium or fewer per sitting. Overindulging can increase digestive upset and zinc toxicity risks.
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Grill, steam, or bake oysters if you have trouble digesting them raw. The high cooking temperatures destroy bacteria as well as make oysters easier to break down.
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Avoid dousing them in heavy cream sauces, especially before bed. The fat and richness can amplify indigestion issues.
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Have some ginger tea after eating oysters. Ginger helps relax the gastrointestinal tract, reducing any potential discomfort.
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Wait 3-4 hours after eating before lying down. This allows enough awake digestion time regardless of meal type.
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Choose farmed oysters over wild varieties to reduce foodborne illness likelihood. Farms adhere to strict sanitation and water quality standards.
The verdict? While certain health precautions are smart, the time you eat oysters makes little difference. As long as you consume them in moderation and practice food safety, enjoy these tasty mollusks to your heart’s content – day or night! Don’t let the myths stop you from indulging your oyster cravings. Just use common sense.
So go ahead and slurp down some briny oyster shooters at your next late-night cocktail party. Your stomach will be A-OK. After all, oysters are an aphrodisiac – perfect for sparking some nighttime fun!
Are oysters still alive when I eat them?
You don’t want to eat a dead oyster, raw. Ideally, oysters should be kept alive right up until the moment just before consumption. With most birds, taking the meat out of the shell kills it because the heart is right next to the bottom adductor muscle.
That said, eating dead oysters isn’t necessarily going to make you sick. But from the moment anything dies, it begins to decompose. A few hours isn’t going to do anything. A few days? Eh, I’ll pass.
THE “YOU ASKED FOR IT” TRUTH
See Erin Byers Murray, author of “Shucked: Life on a New England Oyster Farm,” blog post about it.
When you Google “oysters” and “poop” together, the conversation takes on a depressingly misinformed, ignorant, fearful form. Some particularly one-sided, skewed articles by fairly prominent publications aren’t helping the cause. I mean, can someone just register oysterpoop. com and clear the air about oysters and foodborne illness. It does happen, but not nearly as often as it does with other foods. I don’t get why people who are grossed out by raw oysters are fine with eating the meat from sketchy fast food places.
Still Life with Fruit, Oysters, and Wine by Everhart Kuhn, ca. 1865 (source: Smithsonian Magazine).
Probably not. There is limited scientific evidence that supports this claim, but what we lack in science-based data, we humans love to fill in with anecdotal truth! Basically, if eating a dozen oysters get you in the mood, then just call it a win.
It’s because of the Romans, King Henry the IV, Casanova (who said he ate 50 oysters for breakfast every day and that’s why he had such a famous libido), and over-the-top oyster marketing.
Oysters do contain a pretty high amount of zinc and other great nutrients (vitamin B12, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamins C, D, and E, iron, magnesium, and selenium), which are important in reproductive development and overall health. A study published in 2005 found two amino acids, D-aspartic acid (D-Asp) and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), in shellfish, like oysters, that were shown—at least in animals—to increase testosterone production. So there is that.
But to cite WebMD’s great post about aphrodisiacs, “No food has been scientifically proven to stimulate the human sex organs. But foods and the act of eating can suggest sex to the mind, which in turn can help stimulate desire in the body.”
Myths about eating raw oysters
FAQ
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