What Is the Nutritional Value of Shrimp?

Shrimp are the most popular seafood in the United States, and these tasty prawns can be a healthy addition to your diet. Shrimp are low in fat and calories and have a relatively neutral flavor that makes them a natural addition to salads, pastas, soups and stir-fried dishes.

Steamed or boiled shrimp contain very few calories per serving. Photo Credit kgtoh/iStock/Getty Images

Macronutrients and Calories

Four ounces of boiled or steamed shrimp contains just 112 calories. This serving provides nearly 24 g of protein and 1.2 g of fat--only 0.3 g of which is saturated. Shrimp contain no carbohydrates. Like all seafood, shrimp contains heart-healthy omega-3 fats. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends all adults consume 8 ounces of seafood, like shrimp, a week. A serving of shrimp provides about 15 percent of your daily needs for omega-3 fatty acids

Misconceptions

Shrimp have a bad reputation for being high in cholesterol. In 1996 researchers from Rockefeller University concluded in a study published it the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" that consuming shrimp does not adversely affect cholesterol levels. The American Heart Association modified its dietary guidelines in 2001 to reflect that moderate consumption of shellfish, such as shrimp, can be part of a heart-healthy diet.

Amino Acids

Shrimp are an excellent source of the essential amino acid tryptophan. This amino acid is important to maintaining balanced sleep patterns and helps stabilize mood by affecting neurotransmitters in the brain according to "Psychology Today."

Other Nutrients

A 4-oz. serving of shrimp is also a good source of vitamin B12, which can help protect against heart disease. Shrimp also provides more than 60 percent of your daily needs for the trace mineral selenium, which enhances immunity, thyroid function and reproduction.

Best Preparations

Preserve shrimp’s positive dietary qualities by sticking to steamed, broiled, boiled, baked or grilled versions. Frying shrimp brings the calorie count for 4 oz. up to 317 calories with 17 g of fat. Smothering shrimp in buttery or creamy sauces also adds a lot of fat and calories to an otherwise diet-friendly protein source.

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