Making healthy food choices is one of the easiest ways to lose weight and promote good health, and thankfully, healthy eating can still taste really good too. One such healthy and delicious food option is the shrimp. In the past shrimp was often interpreted as an unhealthy food that raises cholesterol levels. But studies have shown this primarily to be untrue; shellfish and shrimp in particular can be included in a healthy diet.
For some people there are some health considerations to be taken into account though.
Shrimp and seafood in general absorb minerals from the sea; one in particular is sodium and should be considered if you are watching your salt intake. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture there are 805 milligrams of sodium in a three ounce serving (12 large shrimp) of shrimp. It is recommended by the Mayo Clinic that the average healthy person should limit their daily sodium intake to 2,300 milligrams or less, and for those 51 years or older, black people, people with high blood pressure, kidney disease, or diabetes should not exceed 1,500 milligrams daily.
Another factor one must consider is how you prepare your seafood, just as with any food choice, its all in the method of cooking that determines if its healthy or not. Shrimp is so quick and easy to prepare that it will likely become a favorite go to for those with a busy life looking to put a delicious healthy meal on the table in under 15 minutes.
Shrimp are naturally a tasty treat, who doesn’t love delicious ice chilled shrimp cocktail, but shrimp isn’t just delicious, it is also a healthy food choice packed with antioxidants, vitamins and nutrients. As a main course you can truly feel good about consuming this mouth watering seafood containing three antioxidants astaxanthin, selenium, and copper, as well as zinc, vitamins B12 and D. And if all the minerals, vitamins and nutrients aren’t enough there’s an added benefit that can’t be overlooked, especially if you are trying to trim down your waistline or maintain a healthy weight, and that is that shrimp are high in protein and low in fat. Seriously, you get so much bang for your shrimp! Its true, four large shrimp (1 ounce) has only 28 calories and contains six grams of protein. The key factor here is preparation, as long as you prepare your shrimp in a healthy manner this is a guilt free seafood pleasure you can abundantly enjoy eating.
Seafood can be an important part of a healthy diet and shrimp is just one of the many seafood choices you can incorporate into your healthy eating lifestyle. In remembering that food preparation is the key to whether a healthy food remains healthy, below is a recipe for shrimp to help you on your way to healthy seafood bliss:
STIR FRY SHRIMP: serves 4
Ingredients Required:
- 2 cloves of garlic (minced finely)
- 1 red bell pepper (cut into thin strips)
- 1 yellow pepper (cut into thin strips)
- ½ pound of snow peas
- ½ pound fresh mushrooms (sliced)
- 2 tsp. sesame seeds
- 2 tbsp. soy sauce
- 4 tbsp. sesame oil
- 2 lbs. large (raw) shrimp (de-veined and peeled)
- ½ tsp. black pepper (or to taste)
Cooking Instructions:
- Heat Oil in a large skillet or wok on high heat (about 1 minute)
- Add garlic and sauté until tender.
- Add red and yellow peppers, snow peas and mushrooms and stir fry for 2 minutes.
- Add in your shrimp and drizzle in your soy sauce.
- Sprinkle in sesame seeds and black pepper.
- Stir fry until shrimp are pink and vegetables are crisply tender (about 2 to 3 minutes).
- Remove from heat and serve immediately.
Serving Suggestions:
This healthy dish is quick, easy, tasty, and satisfying all on its own, but with its low calorie content you can pair it with a healthy side dish and still be serving a low calorie seafood treat. Serve over a bed of spinach, your favorite rice, quinoa, or scoop it in as the perfect filling for lettuce wraps. Enjoy!
