Why Shrimp Might be the Perfect Food
Shrimp are seafood that almost everyone likes. The vast
majority of us love shrimp but might wonder about their value as a food.
Whether you like cooking shrimp in the oven or eating them cold, here are X
things you should know about shrimp.
Low Calories
A medium-sized shrimp possesses less than 7 calories. A
popcorn shrimp has about 5 calories. By comparison, a cheeseburger with a
quarter of a pound of hamburger, sold by a popular fast food restaurant, has
about 725 calories. There are a little less than 250 calories in a serving of
popcorn shrimp.
Packed with Protein
For not having much of a footprint calorie-wise, shrimp are
stuffed with protein. Three ounces of broiled shrimp contains about 20 grams of
protein. That is almost as much protein as you would get eating a 3-ounce
chicken breast. Even better, that protein comes with very little fat or
carbohydrates.
Nutrient-Rich
For their size, shrimp hit above their weight class in
nutrients. Four ounces of steamed shrimp contains over 100% of the Daily
Recommended Allowance for selenium, over 75% of vitamin B12, 50% of phosphorous
and over 30% of choline, copper, and iodine. Both selenium and astaxanthin are
powerful anti-oxidants and help reduce inflammation, repair cells and fight
age.
Low Fat
The American Heart Association recommends a person intake
less than 300 mg per day. Three ounces of shrimp provides about 150 mg.
Additionally, shrimp is very low in saturated fat and contains no trans-fats.
Both of these types of fat are heavy contributors to overall cholesterol
levels. About the only way to add cholesterol to shrimp is through frying them.
You should always consult with your physician regarding foods you should or
should not eat if your cholesterol is high. There are numerous methods of
cooking shrimp that do not add any cholesterol; recipes for these types of
dishes are available online.
Easy Preparation
It is difficult to find an easier dish to prepare than your
average shrimp dish. In fact, whether you are boiling, frying or cooking your
shrimp in the oven, few dishes are as easy to prepare or cook and take as
little time from start-to-eating as your average shrimp. From start to finish,
you can have an entire meal prepared and served in less than one hour.

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