Shrimp during pregnancy - benefits and harms

A woman who has a baby under her heart can no longer eat everything she wants. From the moment the future mother finds out about her situation, the woman should monitor the diet, choose only fresh and acceptable products. But food is like a medicine. Some products can cope with various problems in the body, while others are forbidden and very dangerous during pregnancy. Today we will talk about shrimps - what kind of product it is and how it gets to our table, whether it is possible to eat it during the period of gestation and how to cook shrimps so that they are not only tasty, but also safe.

Can I eat shrimp during pregnancy?

Shrimps are part of the order of crustaceans, are very common in all freshwater reservoirs. The size of shrimp can be different, from 2 to 30 cm. Today, shrimp are caught in the wild, and they also equip special farms where seafood is bred on an industrial scale. Shrimp can be found in many countries, especially along the coast.

Shrimp have a unique beneficial composition. First of all, it is an easily digestible protein that quickly saturates the body. Just one serving of shrimp weighing 100 grams is already half the daily human protein requirement. At the same time, shrimp does not contain fats and carbohydrates, but there are a lot of vitamins and minerals. Like many seafood, shrimp contains a lot of vitamin D, which is essential for the normal absorption of phosphorus and calcium. There is a lot of iodine in shrimp, 100 times more than in beef. Only one serving of shrimp per day is able to replenish the daily supply of iodine in an adult. Shrimp contains potassium, phosphorus, calcium, sodium, magnesium, iron, zinc, copper, and many different vitamins. At the same time, the product is considered quite low-calorie, this is a real storehouse for the diet of a pregnant woman. That is why doctors say with confidence that during the period of carrying a baby, eating shrimp is not only possible, but also necessary. But on one condition.

Seafood tends to reflect the ecological environment of its habitat. That is, if shrimp grew in the sea with polluted waters, mercury and other heavy metals can be found in meat. This is dangerous for a pregnant woman, especially in the early stages, when all the organs and systems of the baby are only laid. In addition, even “farm” shrimp, which is often stuffed with antibiotics and other medicines, can be harmful. Try to buy only the product that you are sure of quality. You can eat shrimp during pregnancy, but only in small quantities and only with a GOST product certificate of conformity.

The benefits of shrimp during pregnancy

As noted, shrimp is a very valuable, and most importantly, incredibly tasty product that is very useful for women, especially during pregnancy.

1. Shrimp is an ideal food because it gives a feeling of satiety, but does not add calories, this is the best solution during pregnancy.
2. Shrimps are often served in salted form, which is very pleasing to the sophisticated taste of a pregnant woman, replacing such harmful substances as crackers, chips, etc.
3. A large amount of phosphorus and calcium makes up for the deficiency of these trace elements in the body, allowing a woman to keep her teeth healthy until the end of pregnancy. For the same reason, shrimp are very useful during lactation.
4. Shrimp has folic acid, which is so necessary during pregnancy, especially in the early stages.This vitamin reduces the risk of fetal neural tube pathologies.
5. The substances contained in shrimp are involved in the process of hematopoiesis, it is very important for pregnancy, when the body increases the amount of circulated blood for two organisms in a short time.
6. Shrimp, like many seafood, contains omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which strengthen the woman's immunity, protect her from colds. In addition, these acids reduce the risk of various pathologies in the fetus.
7. Iodine in the product is essential for the normal functioning of the endocrine system of a woman and a child.
8. Shrimp contains antioxidants that increase the elasticity of blood vessels, reduce the risk of blood clots.
9. Shrimp is an absolutely hypoallergenic product that not only does not cause a reaction, but also perfectly suppresses various allergic manifestations.
10. The rich mineral composition of shrimp allows you to preserve the beauty of nails and hair during pregnancy and lactation, when most of the vitamins are spent on nutrition and development of the baby in the womb.

Shrimp contains a large amount of selenium, which with regular consumption reduces the risk of developing malignant tumors, preventing oncology. Shrimp is especially effective in the prevention of colorectal cancer.

How to choose and cook shrimp safely?

When you are in an interesting position, you cannot rely on the first restaurant you choose and there are dubious shrimp dishes not of the first freshness. If the craving for the product is irresistible, you need to choose shrimp and cook them yourself.

Of course, it is best to buy shrimp fresh, directly from a fishing boat or from a farm. But if you do not live on the coast, making it harder. Frozen boiled shrimp are most often sold at grocery stores. If there is an opportunity to buy freshly frozen products - do so. Carefully inspect the carcasses of sea crustaceans. They should be fresh, have the smell of the sea. If the shrimp is not frozen, lightly press on its shell. Young and fresh shrimp will be moist and moderately elastic, old crustaceans have a hard shell. On the surface of the carcass should not be heterogeneous specks and spots. If there are black blotches on the paws, this indicates the old age of the product; when boiled, the shrimp will turn into porridge. Sometimes unscrupulous sellers and manufacturers try to erase these black blotches using various chemical compounds. From this, yellow spots appear on the shell - this product is also not worth taking. Do not be afraid to buy shrimps with a green head - such individuals simply ate plankton, there is nothing wrong with that. But if the head of the shrimp is brown, it means that you have a female individual and she is pregnant. Shrimp eggs are in the paws, they are also very tasty.

When eating shrimp, one does not have to be zealous, the shrimp meat itself is already very tasty and does not need additional seasonings and spices. Shrimps need to be cooked for no more than 7 minutes, after cooking, simply salt the meat and eat it with vegetables and sauce.

Science has long proved that a woman during pregnancy wants exactly what she lacks in the body, so the craving for exotic products is especially strong. Perhaps that is why there is a popular belief that a pregnant woman should not be refused. And if she wanted shrimp - just make sure that the product is natural and fresh.

Video: the benefits and harms of shrimp