We tend to think of caviar as a glitzy, glamourous snack for the rich and famous, often overlooking the unique qualities of the food itself.
Caviar has a distinctive, delicious flavor and works well in a range of culinary applications. With so many varieties to choose from, it offers a lifelong journey of taste and texture for curious gourmets. Some connoisseurs dedicate their lives to caviar and still never try them all!
But have you ever thought of caviar as a health food? As it turns out, just a few scoops can pack a ton of nutrition and benefit your body in a number of unexpected ways.
Here are the key health benefits of caviar, and some tips on how to get the most out of each bite.
Basic Nutrition Facts
Since mature sturgeon allocate a lot of quality nutrients to their unfertilized eggs, the result is an all-natural nutritional powerhouse that we enjoy in each salty scoop.
Caviar contains many health treasures to uncover, but let’s first look at the basic nutritional breakdown in a single 1-ounce serving:
- 71 Calories
- 5g Total Fat
- 1g Saturated Fat
- 165mg Cholesterol
- 420mg Sodium
- 1g Total Carb
- 0g Fiber
- 0g Sugar
- 7g Protein
With that scoreboard, it’s no wonder that scientists have classified caviar as a certified superfood! Few other ingredients from the natural world have such an impressive nutrition panel, especially at this low serving size and high concentration.
On top of that, caviar is completely free of gluten, dairy, and other allergens that are commonplace in health foods like nuts, seeds, legumes, and many veggies. Unless you have a rare allergy to fish eggs, you can safely eat caviar each day as a super healthy snack.
Looking at current diet trends like Keto, Paleo, and low-carb lifestyles, caviar deserves its reputation as a clean, organic source of quality macronutrients for all to enjoy.
Vitamins and Minerals Galore
Strong fundamentals are just the beginning. As we look closer at caviar’s micronutrient profile, it stands out as a true superfood unlike any other.
In one serving of caviar, you get a full spectrum of quality vitamins, including A, B2, B6, B12, B44, D, K, and plenty more. While these can be found in small amounts in other foods or capsules from the health food shop, they are far more bioavailable and readily absorbed from a natural source like caviar.
Without getting deep into the details of each vitamin, just know that these are essential compounds that help the body sustain key systems like cognition, digestion, circulation, joint and skeletal health, and immunity.
Considering that most of us are deficient in at least one of these vitamin categories, it’s not a bad idea to add a scoop of high-quality caviar to the daily diet.
The mineral profile is another area where caviar really shines. Calcium, iron, selenium, phosphorous, and magnesium can be found in abundance in each spoonful, each with its own unique benefits. Generally speaking, minerals aid the body in producing healthy blood cells and maintaining strong defensive systems against viruses and germs.
If you’ve ever felt a jolt of positive energy after eating caviar, it’s not just the fantastic taste and good company – in just one bite, you get an astonishing dose of key vitamins and minerals that your body craves.
A final compound found in caviar worth mentioning is choline, which has recently garnered attention in the medical community as a key to cellular energy and metabolism.
Choline regulates memory, mood, fine motor skills, and muscle development. It’s an all-around important nutrient, and caviar offers one of the richest natural sources available.
Awesome Omega-3s
Doctors have only just begun to understand the mysteries of healthy fats, but they know one thing for sure: Omega-3 fatty acids are above and beyond the best of the bunch.
Omega-3s are easily absorbed by the body and don’t weigh down our cardiovascular system like other, heavier forms of saturated fat. Instead, they help build protective structures and strengthen our defenses against a huge range of diseases and disorders.
While Omega-3s mainly help bolster our cardiovascular and respiratory systems, they also work wonders for cognitive health, eyesight, skin, hair, nails, and general wellbeing. For those who combat chronic inflammation in their joints, Omega-3s can cool things down and bring back mobility once again.
Many people choose to buy fish or krill oil capsules with high concentrations of quality EPA and DHA compounds (the two main Omegas), but caviar contains an enormous blast of fresh, healthy fat that your body will appreciate far more.
The lesson here is not to be afraid of fat, as long as you choose the right types to add to your diet. Caviar has one of the strongest Omega-3 profiles known to science, so it’s a good place to start.
Superfood Caviar Pairings
We typically think of a caviar service with minimal accouterments. Maybe a lemon wedge and some capers on ice with a simple starch on the side. But if you play your cards right, you can make an incredibly healthy snack – with caviar as an added bonus.
The first recipe worth mentioning is the classic hard-boiled egg with caviar on top. Just a few pieces will have you feeling full and provide you with nearly enough protein to last the day.
Roasted potatoes with sour cream and caviar are also perfect for a quick burst of carbs, and the hot-cold dynamic of this dish will satisfy at any time of day.
You can also up the ante by adding caviar to a quality piece of roasted meat, such as prime rib or filet mignon. Beef tartare is another great appetizer that is deceptively easy to make and fits with the elegant air of caviar in the kitchen.
Let this be a reminder that caviar doesn’t need to be reserved for the most special occasions. Just a couple of small spoonfuls a day can work wonders for your health and doesn’t have to be too pricey if you know where to look.
How Much is Too Much?
We’ve espoused the health benefits of caviar plenty, but it’s important not to indulge in too large of a serving each day. Caviar does contain substantial amounts of cholesterol and sodium, so if your doctor has set clear restrictions, don’t brush them aside.
Even healthy folks should watch their caviar intake and ensure they get a well-rounded diet of whole foods to keep things balanced. And not to worry—there are theories out there that keeping the sodium-potassium ratio in your body low can be just as effective in handling these issues.
To enjoy the health benefits and taste of caviar to the fullest, just keep an eye on your consumption—after all, even the tastiest foods are best enjoyed in moderation.
Affordable and Accessible
You may be eager to add caviar to your diet ASAP but hesitate about the price tag. Don’t worry; you can find quality, affordable caviar without having to bankrupt yourself.
You can seek out a boutique caviar retailer online and get the best stuff delivered straight to your door.
Conclusion
Stepping into the world of caviar is exciting and worthwhile for so many reasons, including these countless health benefits. Enjoy every bite for the flavor, texture, and healthy living you deserve.
Sources:
https://www.webmd.com/depression/features/can-caviar-cure-depression#1
https://www.thespruceeats.com/caviar-and-health-1807506
https://www.healthyfood.com/ask-the-experts/the-sodium-potassium-balancing-act/