Nutrition Experts
Question:
I'd love to make a romantic shrimp dinner for my sweetheart on Valentine's Day. But isn't shrimp too high in cholesterol for a heart-healthy diet?
Answer:
You and your sweetheart can relax and enjoy your shrimp dinner when you follow a few guidelines from the American Heart Association (AHA).
It's true that shrimp contains more cholesterol than many other types of seafood—about 130 mg cholesterol per 3-ounce serving. But the AHA advises healthy people to consume less than 300 mg of cholesterol a day. So, a serving of shrimp can fit into a heart-healthy diet when you keep tabs on your daily cholesterol intake from other foods such as egg yolks, meats and dairy products.
According to AHA, saturated fat is the main dietary cause of high blood cholesterol levels—more so than dietary cholesterol. The good news is that a serving of plain shrimp is low in saturated fat. Shrimp also is packed with protein and supplies the mineral selenium, which helps support healthy immune function. All for just 90 calories per serving!
As for that romantic dinner, try shrimp-stretching dishes that call for healthful preparation techniques. Toss shrimp with whole-wheat pasta, sautéed minced garlic and olive oil; thread it with pineapple, green pepper and onion chunks for grilled kabobs, or stir fry it with peapods and mushrooms. Or, just serve as an appetizer with cocktail sauce.
Make it super-simple by stocking your freezer with our waterfront BISTRO™ shrimp. The AHA advises eating fish twice a week, so snag some waterfront BISTRO™ salmon, cod, halibut and tilapia, too.
Nutritionist Experts
Our Nutrition Experts are registered dietitians who hold master's degrees and are members of the American Dietetic Association and several specialty nutrition groups. They combine over 40 years experience in food and nutrition science, communications and counseling, the culinary arts and the development of nutrition education materials. They are quoted frequently in the national media and have written about nutrition for many major magazines, newspapers, and newsletters.
