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Shrimp Calories

Abhijit Naik
There is no questioning the popularity of shrimp in the United States. Lately though, there has been some confusion about their nutritional value, especially pertaining to their calories and cholesterol content.
Our busy lifestyle seldom gives us time to exercise, and so, we are left with no option, but to rely on a proper diet to maintain our health. We can say that proper diet is nothing but the food low in calories, fats, and carbohydrates, and high in proteins, vitamins, and essential fatty acids. There is no dearth of such foods; shrimp being one of them.
Shrimp have low calories compared to beef and other fatty foods. At the same time, they add much-needed proteins and other nutrients to our daily diet. Overall, they are ideal substitutes for fatty foods which are more likely to harm to our body.

Shrimp Nutrition Facts

A 4-ounce shrimp serving provides 23.7 grams of protein, 64.2% of the daily value of selenium, and 28.2% of the daily value for vitamin B12. That's a substantial amount in lieu of 120 calories which the serving contains. Shrimp are also rich in omega-3 essential fatty acids which are essential to maintain a healthy heart and normal blood pressure.
They also contains significant amount of selenium, which helps us fight diseases like cancer. Other than these nutrients, shrimp also contain vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, niacin, zinc, and iron. These nutrients are quite beneficial in keeping various health problems at bay.

Calorie Count

Many people are skeptical about eating shrimp owing to their high cholesterol content. What they fail to understand is that unlike other high cholesterol foods, shrimp are quite low in calories and saturated fat.
Generally, 1 lb of raw shrimp contain about 480 calories, which accounts for roughly about 28 to 30 calories per ounce. However, like any other low calorie food, the calorie content of shrimp undergoes a drastic change depending on the way they are cooked.
The calorie count for shrimp which is 30 calories per ounce in raw state, shoots up to 65 calories per ounce when fried. This rise in calories is attributed to the use of oil to fry them. Boiled, steamed, or grilled shrimp are low in calories when compared to fried shrimp.
Other than the method of cooking, the ingredients used also play a vital role in altering the calories in shrimp. Using sauce or butter to prepare shrimp recipes is bound to double the calorie content, thus reducing their nutritional value.
Other than being low in calories, shrimp are also low in saturated fats and carbohydrates. The protective properties of omega-3 essential fatty acids present in them ensure that the damage induced by cholesterol is low compared to the damage induced by foods with high cholesterol plus high fats.
Owing to their low calories and high protein content, shrimp have gained wide popularity among health-conscious people. You can burn 100 calories you consume by running or swimming for 10 minutes, or engaging in a brisk walk for 30 minutes.
The bottom line, therefore, is that even though shrimp are a bit high in cholesterol, they can be included in your daily diet, as they contain several other nutrients in significant amounts, which easily overshadow the cholesterol-related dilemma.