Q: Cholesterol Content of Shrimp

Hello, my recent blood test, showed my cholesterol was elevated. I am trying to find out if shrimp is good while one is trying to reduce cholesterol. I mean grilled, plain shrimp not the swimming in butter kind.

Can you help?

A: Dr. Gourmet Says....

Shrimp does have cholesterol and in higher amounts than some other animal protein. There is about 200 mg of cholesterol in 4 ounces of shrimp.

Keeping an eye on the amount of cholesterol in foods that you eat is one part of lowering your cholesterol. Trying to keep the average of cholesterol that you eat below 300 mg per day is a good target. Your doctor may want you to eat less -- check with him or her. Other keys are things like exercise and not smoking.

More important is the amount of saturated fat that you eat and your plan to avoid the shrimp "swimming in butter" is on target. Grilling or pan roasting is a good plan. You can sauté the shrimp in a little bit of olive oil, however, and still eat healthy. If you like scallops, they are a great choice because they don't have any cholesterol in them.

Look on the site for Shrimp Gazpacho and Shrimp and Fennel Salad.

Here's more information about what is considered high cholesterol.

Thanks for writing to me,

Dr. Gourmet