YOGA & NUTRITION. Lobster diet.

Three days in Maine made me realize that there is such a thing as ‘too much lobster’. Its white delicate meat is considered a delicacy in most countries. However, there were times when lobsters were plentiful, and were washed up on North American shores in piles up to two feet high.  Fact – due to copious amounts, lobster meat was cheap and routinely fed to prisoners, slaves, and children during colonial times. Fact – the largest lobster was caught off Nova Scotia in 1988 weighing no less than 44 pounds and was 42 inches long. Presumably, this creature was approximately 100 years old.

So, what is the real nutrition value of lobsters? Here is your break down for this week: according to the Maine Lobster Council (yes, this is an official organization supported by the United States Department of Agriculture) lobster meat contains half of the calories and fat of the same amount of skinless chicken breast. One hundred grams of lobster meat (boiled) contains 98 calories, 72 mg of cholesterol, and 0.6 g of fat. It is a great source of protein (approximately 18g of protein in 100g of meat), and rich in Omega 3 fatty acids, vitamins E, B-12, B-6, and potassium.

Although the nutritional value of lobster meat cannot be understated, there is a ‘catch’ (no pun intended): crustaceans tend to contain high amounts of cholesterol. While cholesterol is a necessary building block for our cells and production of hormones, the human body makes enough cholesterol to meet its needs, and the dietary amounts should be kept to less than 300 mg a day. On average, one lobster has about 150 grams of meat (close to 100mg of cholesterol); add to it melted butter (people’s favorite!), and you will meet your daily allowance for cholesterol right there.

Another problem with eating lobster more than occasionally is allergies. Crustacean shellfish is one of the eight most commonly allergenic foods which must be identified by manufacturers on all product packaging ingredients. This law was established in 2006 by the Food Allergy Labeling and Consumer Protection Act.  Other foods on this list are: milk, eggs, soybeans, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts and fish.

My favorite quote by Julia Child: “Everything in moderation including moderation”. This applies to everything in our lives. The moral is: eat lobster, be happy, and make your educated decisions wisely. 

Happy Birthday, Julia! 

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