WHY WE AVOID IT:

Shrimp is high in cholesterol, so it was added to the “foods to avoid” list to prevent high cholesterol levels and decrease the risk of heart disease.

WHY WE SHOULD EAT IT:

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, dietary cholesterol has little effect on blood cholesterol levels. Shrimp is actually low in calories, high in omega-3 fatty acids, high in protein and low in contaminants like mercury. It is very healthy for your cardiovascular system and actually lowers blood triglyceride levels and improves the ratio of LDL to HDL cholesterol. There are genuine reasons to avoid eating shrimp that are not nutrition-based. Shrimp and shellfish are among the most common food allergens. And some religions forbid the consumption of shrimp as it is considered an abomination. Regardless, shrimp is the most eaten seafood in the U.S. and the most valuable aquaculture crop in the world.