How Many Calories Are In Shrimp?

Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 4 large shrimp
Calories 22	(91kJ)
Amount Per Serving	% Daily
Total Fat 0.2g	<0.1%
Saturated Fat 0.1g	<0.1%
Trans Fat 0g	0%
Cholesterol 43g	14%
Sodium 49mg	2%
Total Carbohydrate 0g	0%
Dietary Fiber 0g	0%
Sugars 0g
Protein 4.6g	0%
Calcium	<1%
Potassium 40mg	0%

Looking for a change of pace from having chicken for every meal? Shrimp is one popular seafood choice that really packs a powerful protein punch and is great for dieters because it is so low in calories. With each individual shrimp coming in at only 3-10 calories depending on the size, these are extremely easy to add into any diet.

Shrimp is one of the pricier proteins available so it may not be ideal for each and every meal but as a treat on occasion, it’s definitely something to include in your diet.

Let’s take a quick look at the nutritional benefits that shrimp has to offer.

Major Nutrients Found In Shrimp

The most predominant nutrient that you’ll get in shrimp, apart from it’s high protein content, is tryptophan. In addition to this, you’ll find it’s a rich source of selenium, vitamin D, vitamin B12, iron, phosphorus, and zinc.

Those who aren’t eating a great deal of red meat in their diet will really benefit from using this food due to the higher iron content it contains.

One interesting thing to note is that shrimp is higher in overall cholesterol, which is something that causes many people to avoid eating it, however it’s actually been noted that shrimp will raise the levels of good cholesterol in the body more than it will the bad cholesterol, thus it’s not quite the threat to your overall cholesterol profile that you may have once thought.

In addition to this, due to the selenium content of shrimp you’ll get a nice degree of cancer protection as selenium helps to repair damaged cells and reduce the spreading of cancer cells.

Storing/Selecting

When purchasing shrimp you’re always going to want to purchase it as fresh as possible as with any seafood, this is one food you definitely don’t want to buy old. One way of determining freshness tends to be to smell it as older, less fresh shrimp will give off quite a strong odour.

If you’re purchasing frozen shrimp then check the package for freezer burn and make sure that there are no black spots present on the shell if you’re purchasing shell-in shrimp.

After purchasing your shrimp be sure to place it somewhere very cold for storage as it’s a food that will go back quickly when left at room temperature.

Eat It With:

Shrimp can be enjoyed a number of different ways from eaten cold with cocktail sauce, added into stir-fries, used with salads, served as an appetizer, or baked into any other dishes that you may be making. Shrimp is also a common protein found in many types of sushi.

{Scampi is a great way to make use of 1 serving of shrimp to fill out a meal!}

If you want to lighten up a pasta dish, add shrimp and lemon juice for a healthy yet satisfying meal.