Gulf Shrimp: Good and Good for You!

If you’re looking for tasty, high-protein foods that provide a variety of healthy nutrients to your diet, wild-caught Gulf shrimp are the answer! Not only are they tasty and easy to prepare in a multitude of ways, but they also provide protein, vitamins and minerals. Scrumptious Gulf shrimp from Biloxi Shrimp Co. are sure to improve the healthiness – and deliciousness – of your meals!

Packed with Protein

Gulf shrimp are high in protein and low in carbohydrates. Just 100 grams of cooked shrimp are estimated to provide about 24 grams of protein and only 2/10 of a gram of carbohydrates. If you’ve been eating a paleo-inspired diet that requires foods with more protein and fewer carbs, shrimp may be your new superfood.

Essential Nutrients

These small shellfish yield a significant amount of nutrients. Incorporating shrimp into your diet provides access to a wealth of vitamins and minerals, such as:

• Iron
• Iodine
• Calcium
• Magnesium
• Zinc
• Phosphorus
• Niacin
• Vitamin B12
• Selenium

These essential vitamins and minerals may help with thyroid function, brain health and even reduce inflammation. Shrimp also contain omega-6 fatty acids, omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants that may help reduce cell damage, including harm to the skin from sun exposure. Shrimp are an important source of astaxanthin, an antioxidant that may help strengthen arteries, reducing the risk of heart disease. It also may help increase the HDL cholesterol in your body, which can positively impact cardiovascular health.

Low in Calories

You may know that shrimp are low in calories. But do you know just how low? A single shrimp provides only about seven calories. Other calculations indicate a three-ounce serving of shrimp is around 84 calories, and 100 grams of cooked shrimp is about 100 calories. This makes them an excellent choice for anyone watching their weight.

This is especially true when compared to other sources of protein, including:

● Beef: 213 calories

● Pork: 206 calories

● Lamb: 160 calories

● Chicken: 138 calories

Of course, preparation methods affect the final calorie count in any Gulf shrimp dish, but that’s another benefit of serving shrimp – it’s so easy to create delicious shrimp dishes that feature broiled or grilled shrimp. Steamed shrimp are also an excellent accompaniment to a cocktail hour or scattered on a salad at dinner.

No Antibiotics in Wild-Caught Shrimp

Those wanting to cook healthy meals with nutrious foods, will normally pay attention on whether antibiotics are used. While antibiotics are a vital medication, their overuse in agriculture can create antibiotic resistance. When antibiotics don't work as well due to this resistance, humans and animals aren't able to use antibiotics to effectively fight infections.

But wild-caught Gulf shrimp are harvested from nature, meaning there are no antibiotics involved. When you introduce more shrimp into your everyday diet, consider where the shrimp come from, and make sure you purchase wild-caught shrimp from the United States.

Ample Antioxidants

Unstable molecules called free radicals are all around us -- from the sun’s rays and environmental pollutants to inside our bodies when food is transformed into energy. These molecules cause a process called oxidative stress that damages our cells and increases the risk for many serious conditions, including cognitive decline, heart disease, cancer, Parkinson’s disease and more. Fortunately, a diet rich in antioxidants can help reverse the impact of free radicals and keep cells healthy.

Antioxidants are found in many foods, including fruit, vegetables, nuts, leafy greens, dark chocolate and, of course, wild-caught Gulf shrimp. These antioxidants can help prevent inflammation, strengthen the arterial walls and even improve HDL cholesterol levels.

What About Cholesterol?

For a long time, questions about shrimp’s high cholesterol content have left us wondering about their health benefits. Just three ounces provides 166 mg, far more than other seafood and more than half of the 300 mg daily limit for healthy adults. It was once believed that dietary cholesterol from shrimp and other foods contributed to high blood cholesterol levels. When blood cholesterol is too high, fatty deposits clog blood vessels and leave us vulnerable to strokes, heart attacks and more.

However, healthcare experts’ understanding of dietary cholesterol has evolved. Today, we know dietary cholesterol has little, if any, impact on blood cholesterol, which is produced by the liver. Shrimp have also been shown to help lower triglycerides and raise HDL, or “good,” cholesterol. In the end, there is no reason to exclude Gulf shrimp from a healthy diet, if anything, we encourage them!

Eat Gulf Shrimp and Improve Your Health

Gulf shrimp help lower your risk for disease and they also promote healthier living. To learn more about the benefits of eating Gulf shrimp, contact Biloxi Shrimp Co. in Biloxi, Mississippi, today. Need ideas for cooking with shrimp? Visit our recipes and blog for inspiration.

Click here to order mouthwatering wild-caught shrimp straight from the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico.