Oysters

蚝（牡蛎）

蚝也称为牡蛎（mu li)，是一种史前已经存在的双贝壳软体动物。蚝的种类超过100种，分布在世界各地的海床及海岸线。

在夏季，雌蚝会在水中产出大约五亿粒卵子以待与雄蚝所排出的精子结合，成功受精的卵子在水中浮游，大约十个小时后变成针头大小的幼虫。两天之后长出贝壳，在两周之后，长成豆类大小的幼蚝沉到海底继续成长，每年增长一寸。一只充分成长的蚝可以活上十年，繁殖出成千上亿的下一代。喜欢食用蚝的海洋生物包括油螺及海星，而人类也喜欢食用新鲜或晒干的蚝，导致得以生存的幼蚝仅有百万分之一。

选购鲜蚝必须注意其味道闻起来清新，外壳亮丽及干净。其外壳必须紧闭或当你轻敲时闭紧；确记勿买外壳张开的蚝。新鲜取出的蚝肉必须浸在它的液体中以保持新鲜。

将新鲜的生蚝存放在雪柜以潮湿的毛巾或纸巾盖着则可保持其生命力，秘诀在于冷度够低，尽可能存放于0℃-2℃低温，生蚝可以存活四至七天。每天检查及取出那些已经失去生命力的蚝（壳已张开）以免影响其他生蚝。千万不可将生蚝放入密封的容器或淡水中，这会终结其寿命。

那些已经由壳中取肉的鲜蚝肉将其浸在本身的液汁，存放在密封的容器内放入雪柜可以保存一个星期。如果以零下20℃以下存放则可收藏长达两个月。


生蚝的价值

追溯至公元一世纪罗马帝国时代，生蚝即已是宴会中的指定佳肴之一，他们不但嗜吃生蚝，还学习如何大量培育它。蚝的滋补作用历史悠久，无可匹敌，它具有平衡的营养成分，含有高矿物质如锌及铁、同时拥有维他命A、B1、B2及C。

时至今日，生蚝是在少数依然被人们接受以生吃的贝类之一。我们可以在史上记录及故事记载中看到，蚝经常被当着催情圣物。男人不举导因之一是由于体内缺乏锌，而蚝则在动物类当中含锌量最高。根据美国健康指南建议，男性可在日常饮食中摄取15毫克锌，而英国则建议每天摄取8毫克就已足够。

蚝也含有一种诱发脑内情欲的激素，同时使感觉器官更加敏感，能够提高男女在这方面的表现。

贴士：由于未经煮熟的食物包括生蚝可能含有危害健康的细菌，肝脏病患、免疫系统失调或癌症病患应该避免食用生蚝。

Oysters

The Oyster is a bivalve mollusk that has existed since prehistoric times. More than 100 species live in colonies natural beds and banks that are to be found in most parts of the world.

During the summer, an oyster lays about 500 million eggs in the water to be fertilized by the male's sperm. Soon after that, a pinhead sized larva swims around and hatch in about ten hours. In two days shells begin to form and two weeks later pea sized "spat" sink to the bottom. Living on its hollowed out shell, the oyster grows one inch a year. Adults can live to be ten years old and reproduce billions of times. Many marine creatures eat oysters, including whelks and sea stars. Humans consume it either in fresh or dried forms. With so many predators of the oysters, only about one in a million spat will survive.

Oysters that are sold live should smell briny-fresh, and look bright and clean. Shells should be tightly closed (so that you can't pull them apart), or should close tightly when the shell is tapped; don't buy oysters with open shells. Freshly shucked oysters should be submerged in their own clear liquid (called liquor).

When you buy oysters, it is imperative to keep them alive till you are ready to cook them or serve them. Live oysters can be stored in the refrigerator, covered with wet kitchen towels or paper towels. The key is to keep them truly cold: if possible, at 0°C to 2°C (32°F to 35°F). Within that range, oysters should keep (in a live state) for about four to seven days. Be sure to remove any that die (look for open shells) during that period so they do not contaminate the remaining oysters. Do not put them in an airtight container or submerge them in fresh water, or they will die.

Shucked oysters should be kept in tightly covered containers, immersed in their liquor; they, too, should keep for up to a week. They should keep for two months if the freezer is set at -20°C(0°F) or colder. Be sure to thaw frozen oysters in the refrigerator, not at room temperature.

Oyster wonder

In the 1st century, no Roman orgy was complete without huge platters of oysters. The ancient Romans served large quantities of oysters at their banquets and learned to cultivate them. They have a long history of nourishing the human race, and have been a prized food since the pre-Christian era. Few foods can compare with oysters in terms of their nutritional value. The oyster is a well balanced nutritious food, rich in minerals such as zinc and iron, as well as vitamins A, B1, B2 and C.

Oysters are among the few shellfish that people of the world still eat alive and raw. In countless stories and legends throughout history, Oysters have been the base for Love potions. A common cause of impotence in men is zinc deficiency and the richest animal source of zinc of course Oysters. American health guidelines suggest that 15mg of zinc be included in the male diet, the British average is ony 8mg.

Oysters are also a source of Dopamine - a vital neurotransmitter which helps govern brain activity. It provokes sexual interest and triggers responses, while improving performance in both males and females. It is also said to amplify the intensity of sensation.

Health Tip: Because raw foods including oysters may carry bacteria, persons with chronic liver disease, impaired immune systems or cancer should avoid eating raw oysters.