Why oysters are the best natural source of zinc
If you want to know where zinc is found, you almost always end up with one answer at the top: the oyster. No other food contains zinc in such high concentration and such good bioavailability. The reason lies in the food matrix: the zinc in oyster tissue is bound to proteins and amino acids, exactly in the form the body is used to absorbing from food. A freeze-dried oyster extract preserves this matrix and makes it suitable for everyday use as a capsule, without having to eat fresh oysters.
It gets interesting because oysters don’t just provide zinc. They are one of the few foods that contain zinc and selenium together in significant amounts (along with copper and vitamin B12). These four micronutrients work closely together in the body, for example in cell protection and the immune system.
Zinc, copper, selenium, and B12 – what these nutrients do
Zinc, copper, selenium, and vitamin B12 fulfill clearly defined roles in the body. All four have officially approved health claims (*Health claims according to approved EU/CH health claims):
Zinc
- contributes to the normal function of the immune system
- helps protect cells from oxidative stress
- contributes to maintaining a normal testosterone level in the blood
- contributes to normal fertility and reproduction
- helps maintain normal skin, hair, and nails
- contributes to normal cognitive function
Selenium
- contributes to normal thyroid function
- contributes to the normal function of the immune system
- helps protect cells from oxidative stress
- contributes to the maintenance of normal hair and nails
Copper
- contributes to normal energy metabolism
- contributes to the normal function of the nervous system
- contributes to normal iron transport in the body
- helps protect cells from oxidative stress
Vitamin B12
- contributes to normal energy metabolism
- contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue
- contributes to the normal function of the nervous system
- contributes to normal red blood cell formation
What exactly does zinc do in the body? It is involved in over 300 enzymatic processes (from cell division to metabolism to the immune system). Selenium complements this mainly around the thyroid and cell protection, copper around energy and iron transport, and B12 around the nervous system and blood formation. You get exactly this interplay in a natural oyster extract in a single food.
Oyster extract or synthetic zinc?
A synthetic zinc supplement provides isolated zinc salt, which is a single substance, often with acidifying and separating agents. A real oyster extract, on the other hand, delivers zinc in its natural complex, just as it occurs in food. For those who prefer to get nutrients from a real food rather than from the lab, this is the crucial difference.
Who is Pure Oyster Extract suitable for?
The extract is suitable for anyone who wants to ensure their zinc, selenium, copper, and B12 supply from a natural source. Especially with increased needs, low animal product diets, or as part of a conscious, nutrient-dense lifestyle. As a tasteless capsule, it can be easily integrated into everyday life without the need to enjoy fresh oysters.