Anybody out there that wants to rest assured that they are eating a healthy diet simply needs to sit down and read a few of the copious amount of studies conducted on dietary science and the nutritional needs of the body. Whereas general awareness of these issues has been historically very deficient, today modern science and such communications technologies as the internet have served up a wealth of meticulous studies and concrete conclusions for the general public to digest (no pun intended). It is the responsibility of any person hoping to maintain their bodies healthy, and in particular their hearts, to review the available information and inform themselves.
A conclusion that simply cannot be denied nor overlooked is that seafood in general, and shrimp in particular, are a highly recommended ingredient in any diet, especially for people with no previous history of lipid problems. Shrimp nutrition facts have been proven to be much more comprehensive and positive than was previously assumed. One major finding is that the cholesterol levels of shrimp are not as bad as was generally assumed, with little bad cholesterol and plenty of good cholesterol. One study has demonstrated beyond a shadow of a doubt that consuming shrimp as part of a low-fat diet improves a person's good cholesterol levels, and lowers the total to HDL (good) cholesterol ratio, as well as lowering the LDL (bad) to HDL ratio. Lastly, triglyceride levels in the blood were proven to be reduced, which is another positive aspect of shrimp nutrition.
Nutritional Supplements
Another interesting discovery has been the vast assortment of vital nutrients-well beyond what was thought possible for shrimp-and their relative concentration (aka % daily value). Shrimp is rich in several vitamins, especially B3, B12, and vitamin D, as well as having significant levels of omega 3 fatty acids. A 4oz portion of shrimp contains over 100% daily value of tryptophan content, as well as over 60% daily value of selenium. The proteins in shrimp are incredibly high-quality and low in fats, and furthermore shrimp nutrition contains significant levels of copper, zinc, magnesium, iron and phosphorus. With all that, there can be no doubt that shrimp-assuming its from a quality source like the Alaskan waters-is an excellent ingredient for regular consumption.
