Cholesterol in Shrimps Is No Longer Bad for You

The great debate goes on; is shrimp bad to eat for people with high cholesterol? Well shrimp is low in fat, but very high in cholesterol. Many people are confused by the fat and cholesterol amounts in shrimp. Shrimp is very low in total fat, yet it has very high cholesterol contents. Some people avoid eating shrimp because of its high cholesterol content. Though, based on studies concerning shrimp and cholesterol levels, avoiding shrimp for this reason does not seem 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 effect if it is absorbed, and saturated fat seems to aid in this absorption.

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.

One serving 4 ounce serving of a dozen large shrimp has 130 mg of cholesterol. This is really not a problem, because shrimp is low fat, and is a good source of unsaturated fatty acids, which produce high density lipids, known as good cholesterol. High good cholesterol levels are important in fighting heart disease. Eating shrimp has been shown to lower blood cholesterol levels, and increase good cholesterol levels.

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.

Visit the Cholesterol Scoop for more information on Too Low Cholesterol