Shrimp are known for their delicate taste and are equally delicious served hot or cold. As a result they are a very popular part of our diet. Although shrimp are very low in fat they are known to have a high cholesterol content and for this reason many people avoid eating them.

An interesting study was published in 1996 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition Vol 64 pages 712-717, on the subject of cholesterol and shrimp. It’s object was to see how the addition of cholesterol from shrimp to a low-fat diet compared to the effects of equal amount of dietary cholesterol derived from addition of eggs. In this randomized crossover trial, when shrimp was added to a diet, LDL (bad) cholesterol increased by 7.1% and HDL (good) cholesterol increased by 12.1%. Interestingly, because LDL was lower than HDL, the addition of shrimp to a diet did not worsen the ratio of total cholesterol. In fact, it decreased triacylglycerol (triglyceride) concentration by 13%. High level of triacylglycerol have been linked to a risk of heart disease and stroke. The addition of eggs with similar cholesterol levels increased LDL by 10.2% and HDL by 7.6% and showed a trend to worsen lipoprotein ratios. In the end, it appears that a moderate diet of shrimp in healthy individuals is not all bad and “can be included in "heart healthy" nutritional guidelines”. However, you should consult your doctor if you have any health problems associated with cholesterol and have questions if shrimp are right in your diet.

Shrimp are a great to prepare while stressed for time as they need very little cooking time. However, they are quite sensitive to overcooking. As a cook be attentive when cooking shrimp, when shrimp change colour to creamy-pink throughout, they are done. Shrimp cook quickly and quickly can become overcooked and rubbery.

Most recipes, call for unshelled and “de-veined” shrimp. Actually, there are no real veins in shrimp, “deveining” refers to taking out the digestive track. The track is very thin and it does look like a tiny vain. Most stores sell shrimp that are already de-veined and with out a shell.