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The Benefits of Eating Shrimp

 
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Like eggs, shrimp has gotten a bad wrap due to its cholesterol content. Contrary to past beliefs, eating shrimp does not significantly increase your LDL cholesterol levels but has been shown to increase your HDL (good) cholesterol levels.

It is a very low fat food containing only 1g per 3oz. serving which is mostly polyunsaturated, containing moderate amounts of omega-3 fatty acids - which we all should know by now is a very good thing!

Shrimp is a very convenient food that can be eating just about any way and tossed into just about any dish. It is extremely high in protein and other nutrients giving this relatively inexpensive food a lot of bang for its buck.

For starters, eating shrimp and other seafood products regularly (3 times per week) can:
• Reduce the risk of many types of cancer
• Boost your mood and decrease depression
• Help prevent anemia
• Reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis and Alzheimers disease
• Increase energy
• Promote healthy bones, teeth and gums
• Increase your HDL (good) cholesterol levels
• Boost your immune system
• Promote brain health

Shrimp is low in fat and calories but is an excellent source of Protein, Selenium, and Vitamin B12 and is a very good source of Iron, Phosphorus, Niacin, and Zinc.
1 - 3 oz. serving has:
• 84 calories, 1g total fat, 0 saturated, 166mg cholesterol, 190mg sodium, 0 carb, 0 sugar, 18g protein - 36%
• 48% Selenium - Selenium helps rid the body of free radicals that lead to cancer as well as strengthen the immune system preventing infection and illness.
• 21% Vitamin B12 - Vitamin B12 is needed for normal nerve cell activity as well as red blood cell production which helps prevent anemia. It is also needed to help make DNA, the genetic material in all cells. It helps your cells metabolize protein, carbohydrate and fat and is needed for the production of the mood-affecting substance called SAMe. It works with folic acid to control homocysteine levels to prevent the increase risk of heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis and Alzheimer's disease.
• 15% Iron - Iron is necessary for your body to produce hemoglobin which is required to maintain good energy levels. To increase absorption of the iron absorption, you should eat it with foods rich in Vitamin C.
• 12% Phosphorus - Phosphorus promotes healthy bones, teeth and gums, aids in proper nutrient digestion, proper kidney function and energy production.
• 11% Niacin - may help prevent atherosclerosis and thrombosis by lowering blood cholesterol, and aids in proper metabolism of both carbohydrates and amino acids.
• 9% zinc - Zinc is essential for protein synthesis and helps to regulate the production of cells in the body's immune system.
• 8% copper - Copper helps your body utilize iron, reduces damage caused by free radicals, maintains the health of your bones and connective tissues and keeps your thyroid gland functioning normally.
• 68.8mg Choline - Choline helps promote a healthy nervous system and cell walls and helps prevent the accumulation of fat and cholesterol in your liver. It is also particularly important for brain function and health.
• 295mg Omega-3 fatty acids -  Some, but definitely all of the the possible benefits of fish oil, include:
◦ reduces risk of heart disease, cardiac death, stroke and some cancers including colorectal
◦ aids in treatment of Crohn’s disease, some cancers, lupus, kidney disorders, arthritis, psoriasis, and eczema
◦ promotes healthy eye and brain function and aids in treatment of mental disease and disorders like Alzheimer’s, ADHD and depression.
◦ There have also been a number of studies that show a relationship between low dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids and depression and there was a recent study done at Purdue University linking hyperactivity, learning disorders, behavioral problems and sleep problems in children with diets low in omega-3 fatty acids.

So go ahead and feel good about your shrimp cocktail appetizer. When dipped in cocktail sauce it is even healthier! Throw it into your vegetable stir-fry or top off your salad. Shrimp makes a great soft taco stuffer and when wrapped in  a  La Tortilla Factory Sonoma Carb Cutting Artesian Tortilla you have yourself a high protein, high fiber, low carb and low calorie meal! The options are endless. Get creative and enjoy!

http://www.fitdivanewsletter.com/my_weblog/fitfare/index.html

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EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

no one eats the vein in shrimp unless they want to! I have removed many....and have you seen what pigs and chickens eat...cows are the best eaters if they are range feed they are happy with just grass but you still have to remove their poop shoot

March 12, 2015 - 9:02am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

Shrimp is a SCAVENGER and thus a biblically verboten so-called food. I used to love me some shrimp (shrimp scampi) back in the day. I had an ex-girlfriend named Meisha and back in the early 1990s we practically lived at Red Lobster restaurant. Red Lobster made a lot of money off of me in my days of darkness as a delusional frugavore parading around as a carnivore.

Shrimp thrives off of eating the flesh of dead creatures. Throw a dead dog in the part of the water where shrimp dwell and watch what the shrimp will do to the flesh of the dead dog.

When you really look at these critters, they are some of the ugliest-looking creatures. Of course I'm being opinionated here.

Do you know that if you eat shrimp you are eating shit (feces) as well? That's right, if you eat shrimp you are a shit-eater. Ever noticed a long black strand along the shrimp's back? Do you know what that is? I found out what it was from that ex-girlfriend when one day I cooked shrimp for dinner for us and upon eating a shrimp she closely inspected it and then got mad at me. She said I didn't clean the shrimp good enough and I asked her how did she figure. She told me that I had to remove the little black strand from all of the shrimp. I asked her why and she frankly told me "Because it's shit!" I looked at this girl with the expression on my face that said: "How in the hell are you're going to know this and still eat this shit, and worse, not even tell me?" I ended up getting mad at her.

Anyways, she was telling the truth. We were eating shit! Shrimp shit coated with melted congealed cow snot in the form of butter. However, I must admit that I wasn't that damn dead back then. After discovering this, I left all seafood alone except for fish up until 1996, a year before I wisely became a vegetarian and gave up all animal flesh (thanks in large part to a Muslim-owned restaurant [Mr. Muhammad's] closing down in South Los Angeles that prepared the best tasting fish I ever ate as a wanna-be carnivore).

November 26, 2011 - 5:29pm
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We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.

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