Posted on 06/07/2009 10:17:34 AM PDT by JoeProBono
On the grill, in a salad, or just bathed in cocktail sauce, shrimp is an ultimate — and nutritious — summer food
WHY YOU NEED THEM
Shrimp are high in muscle-building protein, and an excellent source of betaine, a nutrient necessary for helping your body to maintain normal levels of homocysteine (a potentially harmful amino acid that promotes inflammation by irritating the lining of blood vessels). An ample supply of vitamin B12 — more than 25% of recommended daily dose per serving — further assists in keeping homocysteine in check.
Your body uses the amino acid arginine in shrimp to produce nitric oxide, a key player in preventing blood clots, relaxing arteries, and improving blood flow to the heart, muscles, brain, and other, uh, essential male organs.
Four ounces of cooked shrimp serves up nearly half the DHA and EPA — omega-3 fats — you should be getting every day. Omega-3s reduce blood pressure and triglycerides (fats in the blood) and are one of the only nutrients that raise good HDL cholesterol.
These sea critters are low-cal (112 calories per four ounces) and are one of only a handful of foods with natural vitamin D. People with the most vitamin D in their blood have the lowest risk of several different cancers, studies report. One serving provides about half of your daily D needs.
HOW TO SHOP FOR SHRIMP
In the market, opt for wild American shrimp, when available. They're caught off the coast of the southern states and pack lower levels of pollutants than shrimp from other waters.
Look for crustaceans with firm bodies still attached to their shell. They should be uniform in color and free of blemishes; avoid those with a fishy smell _ they're not as fresh.
Store raw shrimp up to two days in the fridge. For later use, wrap them in plastic, freeze, and use within a month (or buy shrimp that are already frozen). Before cooking, defrost frozen shrimp in a bowl of cold water, or in the fridge rather than simply leaving at room temperature.
Prefer cans? Look for Bumble Bee or Chicken of the Sea, which are two of the best options.
I love them, but they are high in cholesterol. But I get them when I can.
yummmmm!
wild American shrimp
preferably fresh with heads still on.
Oh my goodness, what a difference in tast. Unfortunately they are hard to find. I refuse to buy any shrimp or fish that is farm raised.
tast should be taste.
This says I can eat shrimp every day? Best news all week!
I love all-you-can-eat buffets. But they’re best when you don’t eat a few hours before going to one...
Well, that reminds me of my first Jumbo Shrimp, eating out at a Big Boy Restaurant in Dallas. It’s too bad they’re not in Texas (or Oklahoma now). I sure liked their Jumbo Shrimp there, along with their Big Boy Hamburgers, too.... :-)
Best are from some guy set up at the side of the road over at the coast or from a similar guy out at the docks. Very fresh just off the boat with heads still on. They smell like the sea, ‘cause they just left it. lol
I hate frozen too mushy. We had a seafood store that went to the coast 3x a week and brought back really fresh stuff, but the owner so the store closed.
I think a trip to the coast is in order ASAP. Have to take the big ice chest along.
LOL... well..., that reminds me of a special “hamburger” I had one time, while waiting for the ferry at Anacortes, Washington. I had never had it before and it was delicious.
It was a Crab-burger... :-)
However it was..., that they fixed it up, it was juicy and packed full of more crab than you should shake a stick at... Boy, after that, I always tried to get a Crab-burger in Anacortes. I haven’t seen those elsewhere, either.
Most of the time, though, I would barely make it in time for the ferry and would be driving on just about the time they were getting ready to pull away. I remember a few times, having them see me driving up and holding the ferry for me to drive on and closing it up right behind me and the ferry would be moving out of dock even before my car stopped “rolling” on the ferry, itself... LOL...
They were always good about that, if they saw a car come rolling up.
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