The great debate goes on; is shrimp bad to eat for people with high cholesterol? Well shrimp is low in fat, but very high in cholesterol. Many people are confused by the fat and cholesterol amounts in shrimp. Shrimp is very low in total fat, yet it has very high cholesterol contents. Some people avoid eating shrimp because of its high cholesterol content. Though, based on studies concerning shrimp and cholesterol levels, avoiding shrimp for this reason does not seem necessary.

There is a positive relation between two types of cholesterol, LDL and HDL this reduces the vulnerability to heart disease. LDL is known as bad cholesterol, because it might advance the manufacture of artery blocking plaques which can cause a heart attack. HDL is called good cholesterol, because it goes back to the liver for reprocessing, this in turn decreases cholesterol levels in the bloodstream.

Studies have shown that the high percentage of good fats in shrimp reduces the impact of cholesterol. Most people can eat shrimp as part of their balanced diet. Cholesterol from food only has a negative impact if it is absorbed, and saturated fat seems to aid in this absorption. If you are eating foods high in saturated fat, this will increase LDL cholesterol. Most high-cholesterol foods (such as meat, eggs, and dairy products) are also high in saturated fat, and increase LDL. This is not true for shrimp, there is no saturated fat.

One serving of a dozen large shrimp has 130 mg of cholesterol. There is really no problem with this, because shrimp is low fat and is a good source of highly unsaturated fatty acids, which produce high density lipids, known as good cholesterol. Eating shrimp might in fact lower blood cholesterol levels, and higher good cholesterol levels.

One serving 4 ounce serving of a dozen large shrimp has 130 mg of cholesterol. This is really not a problem, because shrimp is low fat, and is a good source of unsaturated fatty acids, which produce high density lipids, known as good cholesterol. High good cholesterol levels are important in fighting heart disease. Eating shrimp has been shown to lower blood cholesterol levels, and increase good cholesterol levels.

Shrimp was thought of as a bad food for those with high cholesterol, when in actuality the opposite is likely true. Just like with eggs you should limit your intake of shrimp to a few times a week, but unlike eggs the cholesterol is offset by the other nutrients of the shrimp, though there are new studies that are changing minds about eggs as well.