When you’re pregnant, you have to make many changes, including what you eat and drink. It’s important to be aware of what you should (or shouldn’t) be consuming during pregnancy to ensure the safety and health of your baby.
There are some foods you should not eat when you’re pregnant because they might make you ill or harm your baby. Make sure you know the important facts about which foods you should avoid or take extra care with when you’re pregnant. The best foods to eat are freshly cooked or freshly prepared food.
What is a Shrimp?
Shrimp is one of the most commonly consumed types of shellfish. It is quite nutritious and provides high amounts of certain nutrients, such as iodine, that aren’t abundant in many other foods.
On the other hand, some people claim that shrimp is unhealthy due to its high cholesterol content. Additionally, it is commonly believed that farm-raised shrimp may have some negative health effects compared to wild-caught shrimp.
Shrimp has an impressive nutrition profile. It is quite low in calories, providing only 84 calories in a 3-ounce (85-gram) serving, and does not contain any carbs. Approximately 90% of the calories in shrimp come from protein, and the rest come from fat. Additionally, the same serving size provides more than 20 different vitamins and minerals, including 50% of your daily needs for selenium, a mineral that may help reduce inflammation and promote heart health.
Here is an overview of the nutrients in a 3-ounce (85-gram) serving of shrimp:
- Calories: 84
- Protein: 18 grams
- Selenium: 48% of the RDI
- Vitamin B12: 21% of the RDI
- Iron: 15% of the RDI
- Phosphorus: 12% of the RDI
- Niacin: 11% of the RDI
- Zinc: 9% of the RDI
- Magnesium: 7% of the RDI
Shrimp is also one of the best food sources of iodine, an important mineral that many people are deficient in. Iodine is required for proper thyroid function and brain health. Shrimp is also a good source of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, in addition to astaxanthin antioxidants, which may have a variety of health benefits.
Can Pregnant Women Eat Shrimp?
Yes, it is safe for a pregnant woman to eat shrimp but stick to two to three servings of shrimp a week and avoid eating it raw. Research suggests eating between 8 and 12 ounces of shellfish or fish per week, which is two or three meals is ok. It is important to cook the shrimp thoroughly, and to avoid raw shrimp, as is found in sushi or sashimi. It is also good to be aware of the area which the shrimp came from.
Depending on where the shrimp were caught, mercury levels may be higher or lower than expected. Your community health department may have information on mercury levels in local bodies of water if you want to eat locally caught shellfish. The important thing to remember is to cook the shrimp completely. Then, enjoy!
Safe Catch is a trusted sponsor of the American Pregnancy Association. Safe Catch developed ground-breaking technology that allows them to test every single tuna to a limit ten times stricter than the FDA. Safe Catch Elite is the only tuna to meet the “Low Mercury” criteria set by the leading US consumer advocacy group for pregnant women and small children.
According to new research, ingesting high mercury levels can have harmful effects on your baby. While it is good to be cautious about your diet, there are a number of types of seafood that are safe to eat, including shrimp. Shrimp contain low levels of mercury; they also are low in fat content and high in protein, making them a healthy choice for pregnant mothers.
