September 2008

Question: 

Dear Janice & Liz,

I just learned my cholesterol is really elevated. Which seafood
should I avoid & which can I have? I enjoy most all seafood.

Thanks,
Confused Mom

Answer: 

Lucky for you, seafood is generally low in cholesterol. Even a
serving of shrimp, which gets a bad rap for being high in cholesterol,
comes in below the recommended daily limit of 300 milligrams set by the
American Heart Association.  More importantly, seafood is very low in
unhealthy saturated fat and contains a sea of nutrients that can help
to reduce your risk of heart disease. 

Seafood is the best food source of health-enhancing omega-3 fats,
shown to help regulate heart rhythm, decrease blood clotting, and lower
triglyceride levels and blood pressure. Following the advice of health
experts to eat a variety of seafood at least twice week is a certainly
a good step towards improving your diet and health. Just be sure that
you limit your intake of fried seafood, which is often fried in
partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, a source of cholesterol-raising
trans fats.

Ask a dietition

  • I am finally convinced that the cholesterol found in shrimp isn’t going to raise my blood cholesterol and may actually decrease my risk of heart disease.  Are there any other nutrients found in shrimp that can make me healthier?
    Happy Holidays!
    Ralph C.

    FIND OUT THE ANSWER

We already know that shrimp is low in fat and calories. But if you are concerned about cholesterol, there is good news. You do not have to give up shrimp! Research shows and dietitians concur that the high percentage of "good fats" in shrimp reduces the impact of cholesterol. So enjoy shrimp as part of a balanced - and delicious - diet.