How Much Protein Is In Shrimp?

How much protein does a serving of shrimp contain? Shrimp is a type of crustacean found in tropical waters around the world. 

They are known for their delicious taste and high nutritional value. Shrimps are also very low in fat and cholesterol.

Protein is essential for building muscle mass and repairing damaged tissues. The recommended daily intake (RDI) of protein is 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight.

This means that a 150-pound person should eat around 75 grams of protein every day.

The RDI of protein can be divided into two categories: animal proteins and vegetable proteins. Animal proteins include meat, poultry, fish, seafood, eggs, milk, cheese, yogurt, and other dairy products.

Vegetable proteins include beans, nuts, seeds, soybeans, tofu, lentils, peas, and grains such as quinoa, brown rice, oats, wheat, barley, rye, and corn. 

Shrimp falls into animal proteins, and in this article, we are going to look at the protein content in more detail, as well as tell you why shrimp is such a great ingredient! Let's dive in!

How Much Protein Is In Shrimp?

Shrimp contains a whopping 22.78 g of protein per 100g. The associated percentage of RDA is 41 % and for a 100g serving of shrimp the calories content is 119 kcal, the fat content is only 1.7 g, and the Carbohydrate content is 1.52 g.

Protein is vital for our health because it helps build strong muscles and repair damaged tissue. It also plays an important role in regulating metabolism.

A lack of protein can lead to weight loss or even death. This makes shrimp a great nutrition source and an easy way of upping your protein intake, whilst also being delicious and easy to cook!

Health Benefits Of Shrimp

Shrimp has many health benefits. It is an excellent source of protein and minerals like zinc, iron, selenium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, copper, manganese, and iodine.

It is also rich in vitamins including vitamin B12, vitamin D, vitamin E, folate, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, thiamine, biotin, and vitamin C.

Shrimps are one of the most nutritious foods available. They are low in fat and cholesterol, which makes them perfect for those who want to lose weight or maintain a healthy diet.

A single serving of shrimp provides 25 percent of your daily requirement of vitamin B12, 15 percent of your daily requirement for zinc, and 10 percent of your daily requirement for copper and selenium.

They are also a good source of omega 3 fatty acids, which are important for brain function and heart health. Omega 3s are also necessary for the proper growth and development of children.

Shrimps are also loaded with fiber, which helps keep you full longer and prevents overeating. Fiber is also needed for digestion and the elimination of waste from the body.

Shrimp Can Help Maintain Weight Loss

High protein foods, such as shrimp, may help with weight loss. Studies show that protein affects appetite hormone pathways, and this makes it easier to avoid regaining weight after weight loss.

Following a meal pattern high in protein and low in carbohydrates improves satiety and naturally regulates food intake.

Shrimp Can Benefit Brain Health

It is also known that shrimp can benefit brain health as a result of the choline content.

Choline from foods such as shrimp is good for cognitive function and even though there is limited research, choline is considered to be used to treat dementia and neurological damage in stroke patients.

Krill oil has also been proved to provide neuroprotective effects as a result of its astaxanthin and omega-3 fatty acids in Shrimp.

What Are Some Other Good Sources Of Protein?

Animal sources of protein have been shown to help build muscles and repair damaged tissue.

This article discusses how much protein is in chicken. Research shows that consuming chicken breast regularly may increase lean muscle mass by up to 4% over 6 months. Other good sources of protein include beef, pork, lamb, turkey, veal, and fish.

Vegetables are also an excellent source of protein. Soybeans, peanuts, chickpeas, kidney beans, black beans, lentils, green peas, broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, zucchini, carrots, tomatoes, cabbage, potatoes, and sweet potato are all rich in protein.

How To Cook Shrimps

Cooking shrimp is easy. Just boil them until they turn pinkish-red. If you prefer to cook them in the microwave, just place them in a bowl and cover them with water. Microwave them for about 5 minutes. Drain off any excess water before eating.

If you don't like the taste of raw shrimps, then it would be better if you marinate them first.

Simply mix some olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika. Then add the shrimps and let them sit for half an hour. After that, drain off the excess liquid and serve.

You can also grill them. Grill them on both sides until they turn pinkish-red. Remove them from the grill when they start turning opaque. Serve immediately.

Shrimp Recipes

To make sure you get enough protein each day, try adding some shrimp to your diet. You can use them in salads, soups, stir-fries, casseroles, pasta dishes, sandwiches, wraps, burgers, tacos, omelets, and even sushi rolls!

Here are some of our favorite shrimp recipes to get you started:

1. Baked Shrimp With Cream Cheese Sauce

Ingredients

• 2 pounds raw shrimp
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup white wine
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 2 teaspoons chopped fresh parsley

Directions

In a large bowl, combine the shrimp, butter, garlic, wine, lemon juice, salt, and pepper; toss until evenly coated.

Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil and place the shrimp mixture on top. 

Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and add the cream. Return to the oven and bake an additional 5 to 7 minutes or until the shrimp turn pink. Sprinkle with parsley before serving. Serves 6.

2. Grilled Shrimp Cocktail

Ingredients

• 12 jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 6 slices of bacon, cut crosswise into thirds
• 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
• 1/2 green bell pepper, finely diced
• 2 cups grape tomatoes, halved
• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• 1 clove of garlic, minced
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Heat grill to medium heat. Cook the bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crisp. Drain the bacon on paper towels.

Add the onions and peppers to the hot pan and sauté for 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a plate. Wipe out the pan. 

Place the shrimp on the grill and cook for 2 to 3 minutes on one side, then flip and cook another 2 to 3 minutes. Using tongs, remove the shrimp from the grill and transfer it to a platter. Set aside.

Add the tomatoes to the same pan used to cook the onions and peppers. Stir in olive oil, vinegar, and garlic. Season with salt and pepper.

Pour the tomato mixture over the shrimp and garnish with the reserved bacon pieces. Serve immediately.

Final Thoughts

We hope after reading this article you have learned everything you need to know about shrimp and its protein value.

Shrimp is one of the best protein sources you can find and by adding more shrimp into your diet, you can up your protein intake which is vital to maintaining muscle mass and keeping healthy. So why not give it a go today!