Shrimp And Cholesterol
1. The Urban Legend About Shrimp
Like many other foods, shrimp has received bad press for its cholesterol content. Summarily banned during the 1990s shrimp has found its way back into the American diet as a hearthealthy alternative. Although shrimp does contain relatively high levels of cholesterol (about 200 mg in 12 large boiled shrimp) , it contains only half of the cholesterol contained in eggs. It is low in fat and calories and high in protein, vitamins D and B12. But the best news is that shrimp is also high in omega3 fatty acids the fatty acids that have been proven to prevent heart disease. Two weekly servings of fish or shrimp with omega3 fatty acids is as effective as taking one daily fish oil supplement.
Like most other foods that you enjoy, there have been arguments for and against eating shrimp since the beginning of time. Long banned for its high cholesterol content, research has shown that for the 75 percent of people whose serum cholesterol is unaffected by diet, shrimp poses no risk to elevating cholesterol levels . Shrimp is a great lowfat alternative to other popular seafood and contains omega3 fatty acids that have been shown to reduce the risk for heart disease, fatal arrhythmias , high blood pressure, cancer and even Alzheimer's disease. However if you are one of the 25 percent of the population at risk for high levels of cholesterol from dietary sources, you may want to check with your doctor before including shrimp in your diet
3. Shrimp Fits Well in Low Fat, Low Cholesterol Diets
One fact that has managed to survive in the shadow of shrimp's cholesterol level is that it is very low in fat. Four ounces of shrimp contain only 2 grams of fat with none of it in the form of saturated fat. One study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that a diet that includes shrimp has more benefits than one that includes eggs. Researchers found that eating shrimp increased LDL levels by 7 percent , but increased HDL levels by 12 percent. On the other hand, eggs increased LDL levels by 10 percent but only increased HDL levels by 7 percent. Shrimp was also found to lower triglycerides by over 13 percent.
4. The Benefits Outweigh the Drawbacks
Like any other food that we choose to include in our diet, the relative benefits should be weighed against the risks . True, shrimp is higher in cholesterol than other protein sources, but for the majority of people seeking a hearthealthy diet, it's not a problem. When making sound food choices, it's important to look at the fat content and its other nutritive values that reduce your risk for heart disease high blood pressure , cancer and agerelated diseases such as Alzheimer's disease.
5. The Controversy Over Eating Shrimp Shells
One of the most controversial subjects to arise recently over the value of eating shrimp is eating its shell Shrimp and other crustacean shells contain a substance called "chitosan." Used for years for purifying water, chitosan is now being investigated for its ability to lower LDL levels while raising HDL levels and helping with weight loss. Many believe that chitosan binds to fat molecules during digestion, rendering them incapable of being absorbed by the body and stored as fat. Since they aren't absorbed , the body eliminates them from the digestive tract. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is . Stay tuned for more information. It should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. LIVESTRONG is a registered trademark of the LIVESTRONG Foundation. Moreover, we do not select every advertiser or advertisement that appears on the web sitemany of the advertisements are served by third party advertising companies .Related：
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