Prawns are often mistaken for large shrimp, but are actually more closely related to lobsters. Prawns are considered a delicacy by many people and appear on gourmet restaurant menus around the world. Seafood should be a healthy part of your diet, and eating prawns delivers the nutritional benefits these sea creatures have to offer. Knowing more about the effects they have on your body, both good and bad, can help you make more informed dietary decisions.
Fat
Your diet needs to include some fat, but eating too much can cause negative effects on your body. Saturated fats, which are present in many animal foods, fried foods and baked goods, can raise your risk of cardiovascular disease, as well as type 2 diabetes. The fat you consume should be mostly unsaturated fats, which can help protect your health. Most seafood is low in saturated fat and prawns fall under this category. One serving of prawns only contains 1.73 g of total fat, with less than 1 g of that being saturated. Prawns also contain .49 g of healthy omega-3 fatty acids, which may benefit your body by helping protect you from heart disease.
Protein
The high protein content in a serving of prawns offers some health benefits for your body. A serving of prawns supplies you with 20.3 g of protein. MayoClinic.com notes that protein is an essential part of your daily diet because it aids in growth and development. Protein is also useful for boosting your energy level and seafood protein foods should be included in your diet twice a week.
Sodium
Many varieties of seafood contain large amounts of sodium, which is a concern for the human body. You need some salt for proper function of your nerve impulses and muscles, but too much can be quite harmful. MayoClinic.com reports that high-sodium diets may increase your blood pressure, as well as put you at a higher risk for heart disease and strokes. Consume no more than 2,300 mg of sodium per day and a serving of prawns contains 148 mg.
Cholesterol
Cholesterol content is another concern with some types of seafood, particularly crustaceans like lobster, crab, shrimp and prawns. High levels of LDL cholesterol can damage the human body by increasing your risk of heart disease and clogged arteries. If you already have high cholesterol, your doctor may have already recommended a low-cholesterol diet so you can get your levels back to normal. Paying attention to the cholesterol content of your food may help you achieve that goal. A serving of prawns contains 152 mg of cholesterol.
References
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; Farming Freshwater Prawns; Michael B. New; 2002
- Environmental Defense Fund; Giant Freshwater Prawn
- MayoClinic.com; Healthy Diet: End the Guesswork with these Nutrition Guidelines; February 2011
- MayoClinic.com; Cholesterol Levels: What Numbers Should You Aim For?; June 2011
- MayoClinic.com; Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Fish Oil, Alpha-Linolenic Acid; April 2011
