We used to be very confused about the effects of Shrimp Cholesterol. Shrimp is low in total fat but has a high cholesterol content. Because of this we used to avoid eating them but a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition says that even though there is a high amount of cholesterol in shrimp, it’s actually good for you. Foods that are high in dietary cholesterol alone don’t raise blood cholesterol levels as much as foods that are high in saturated fat.
The study found that people eating half a pound of steamed shrimp every day for two months did not experience elevated cholesterol levels. (I wish I was part of that study)
It turns out that your HDL levels (the good stuff) are boosted higher than your LDL (bad stuff). Therefore, you can enjoy eating shrimp without any guilt. Well...except if you coat them in a heavy batter and fry them. Or make a creamy alfredo sauce for them to go with.
So if you eat them fried and then dip them in a high fat dipping sauce, you have pretty much lost any health benefits. You can always marinate them and then cook them on the grill. This way you can still add different flavors without adding fat.
So go ahead and include shrimp in your heart healthy recipes. It’s not so bad for you after all. Besides, it's not always easy to find something that's good for you and tastes great also and there are so many ways to prepare them. Take a look at our Shrimp Appetizers section and find one you like.
