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.

Fried, boiled or broiled, whether you are eating them cold or after cooking shrimp in the oven, it is hard to beat the good qualities shrimp will bring to your table. Plus, there are a few more delicious foods than a properly prepared shrimp dish.

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