So is shrimp good for you or bad for you? Shrimp is low in fat, but high in cholesterol. There is much confusion about the fat and cholesterol amounts in shrimp. Shrimp is very low in total fat, tough it is quite high in cholesterol content. There are many people who will not eat shrimp because of its high cholesterol content. Yet, based on studies about shrimp and cholesterol levels, not eating shrimp because of this is not necessary.
There is a positive relation between two types of cholesterol, LDL and HDL this reduces the vulnerability to heart disease. LDL is known as bad cholesterol, because it might advance the manufacture of artery blocking plaques which can cause a heart attack. HDL is called good cholesterol, because it goes back to the liver for reprocessing, this in turn decreases cholesterol levels in the bloodstream.
Studies have shown that the high percentage of good fats in shrimp reduces the impact of cholesterol. Most people can eat shrimp as part of their balanced diet. Cholesterol from food only has a negative impact if it is absorbed, and saturated fat seems to aid in this absorption. If you are eating foods high in saturated fat, this will increase LDL cholesterol. Most high-cholesterol foods (such as meat, eggs, and dairy products) are also high in saturated fat, and increase LDL. This is not true for shrimp, there is no saturated fat.
If you are eating foods that contain high amounts of saturated fat, this will increase LDL cholesterol. Most high-cholesterol foods (like meat, eggs, and dairy products) are also high in saturated fat, and increase LDL. This is not the case in shrimp, because there almost no saturated fat in shrimp.
It is now known that the amount of cholesterol in shrimp is about 130 mg per 3 oz of raw shrimp, which is about 12 large shrimp, there is only two grams of fat in the shrimp. The amount of cholesterol in an equivalent portion of regular ground beef is about 110 mg, and has about 20 grams of fat. Shrimp have high levels of valuable unsaturated fatty acids, which increase HDL cholesterol levels, which are the good cholesterol, so easting shrimp as a part of your diet can decrease your overall cholesterol.
If you are a shrimp lover, you are safe to eat your shrimp. As studies progress you may find that it is a food that you do not have to eat in lower amounts; which has already been hinted at. It is a healthy and tasty food that can be a part of your low cholesterol diet.
