Although shrimp offer many nutritional benefits, controversy surrounds them as a healthy food source based on less-than-ideal fishing methods around the world. Once you've identified where your shrimp has come from, however, adding shrimp to your diet is a good way to add nutrients and lean protein to your diet.
Lean Protein
With just 6 calories in each medium-sized shrimp, of which only 1 calorie comes from fat, shrimp are very low in fat. In addition, with over 23 g of protein, a 4 oz. shrimp serving provides almost half the recommended daily value of protein. These two nutritional facts together are proof that shrimp make an excellent lean protein source.
Nutrients
Shrimp are an excellent source of vitamins B12 and D, and minerals like selenium, iron, phosphorous, zinc, copper and magnesium. They are also rich in omega-3 fatty acids, although not in the high quantities seen in cold-water fish like tuna and salmon.
Toxic Chemicals
Although shrimp do not suffer from the high mercury problems that have plagued other ocean foods, shrimp farming methodologies have put the safety of shrimp as a food source in jeopardy. Many shrimp farms around the world are not subject to the strict regulatory guidelines like those in the U.S. and Canada. As a result, many use the dangerous chemical chloramphenicol to harvest shrimp. According to author Taras Grescoe in her book "Bottomefeeder: How to Eat Ethically in a World of Vanishing Seafood," even U.S. shrimp risk exposure to pesticides, diesel oil and antibiotics. For this reason, it's important to source your shrimp from fishmongers who can tell you exactly where it came from.
Cholesterol
Many avoid shrimp because it is high in cholesterol. While this is true, shrimp contain more HDL, or good, cholesterol than LDL, the bad cholesterol. Furthermore, the B12 in shrimp helps to balance out the cholesterol, by lowering homocysteine levels that can damage blood vessel walls and put you at increased risk for heart disease and stroke. In addition, unlike most high cholesterol food, shrimp is low in saturated fat, making the food even more appealing to heart-healthy eaters.
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