It is well known that the best diet in the world is a Mediterranean diet. It includes fruits, vegetables and a lot of sea food. It is no secret that sea food is the best source of vitamins, minerals and “healthy fats” and it’s also deficient in calories.
It contains omega – 3 acids which lower cholesterol, regulate sugar levels and stimulates brain functions. People who mostly eat this food are proven to be healthier.
Also, Mediterranian countries like Greece or Italy have the lowest rate of people with various types of cancer and heart diseases. They also live longer, and some studies have shown that they consider themselves among the happiest nations in the world.
Don’t forget – if you eat sea food, it should be as fresh as possible, shortly cooked (best option is on little olive oil, with some spices).
Prawns – delicious and healthy food
Prawns are often mistaken with shrimps or are considered to be large-sized shrimp, but in fact, they belong to two different families. You make that mistake because they have a similar shape and taste almost the same. Also, their nutritional characteristics are nearly identical.
If you consider to include some sea food into your daily meal plan, you can not make a mistake if you choose prawns. They have numerous health benefits, the only thing that you have to be careful is that they have high sodium and cholesterol content.
Prawns are usually found in the ocean on 50 meters of depth, and they are found among or under the rocks. There is two kind of prawns: big and small. Larger prawns are also known as Tiger prawns -because they have a tiger like color on their shells.
Prawns are not only delicious to eat but are very healthy and nutritious. They are very rich in proteins yet very low in fats and calories. For those who want to lose extra pounds and to remain healthy, they are a perfect choice. It is true that prawns are high in cholesterol, but nutritionist says that cholesterol found in the prawns is “good” for you and that even can fight bad cholesterol.
An average size prawn contains about 2 grams of fat, 30 grams of proteins and about 125 mg of minerals and around 2 grams of fat. This potent mixture is what makes prawns so delicious, but also the one of the most beneficial sea food there is.
Nutritional characteristics of prawns
When you want to include low protein source into your diet, you should always choose shrimps or prawns. Why? The answer is – prawns are a great source of protein. Around 8 – 10 middle sized prawns contains only 100 calories per serving. This super food also contains good quantities of calcium, potassium, phosphorus, vitamin A, and vitamin E.
Regarding fat that can be found in prawns, you can be calm, because prawns mainly have unsaturated fat. This fat, unlike saturated trans fats, can regulate your blood cholesterol and sugar levels.
Prawns, like other fish and shellfish, are also an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids ( they are fatty acids that human body does not produce). These acids can reduce inflammation in the body and can prevent heart and cardio diseases, cancer, and arthritis. Also, they can help with neurological functions and can stimulate brain function.
There are minimal downsides of eating prawns. It is their cholesterol and sodium. Prawns, while very low in bad fat and very high in protein, they are rich in cholesterol, containing 179 milligrams per 3-ounce serving. Nutritionist recommends about 300 milligrams per day. So you should only pay attention how much you eat them, don’t eat them in large amounts. So it is about quantity – and you are safe.
Prawns, otherwise incredibly healthy, are also naturally high in sodium. Around 100 grams of prawns contains 805 milligrams of sodium. A diet high in sodium can increase the risk of hypertension, heart disease, and osteoporosis. The recommended limit for sodium is 2,300 milligrams for adults, and 1,500 milligrams for people who have cancer, heart diseases, or for the older population. So, when you are preparing prawns try not to put any additional salt into your meal.
Despite the high cholesterol and sodium content, prawns are still a healthy alternative protein source. It is recommended that you should eat about 8-10 ounces of cooked seafood each week.
So when you consume prawns, you are replacing animal proteins, such as red meat, that are extremely high in saturated fats. With prawns, you can eat your daily protein requirement (active adults eat 5 to 6 1/2 ounces of protein per day) and also lower your saturated fat. That is good and healthy diet.
Benefits of eating prawns
1. Calories – If you want your calories in check and lose weight – eat prawns. They have fewer calories as compared to most meats or some other fish.
2. Fatty Acids – Prawns are a rich source of Omega 3 Fatty acids which are very good for the heart and cardio system. Those acids are widening the arteries by removing bad cholesterol from the inner walls of the arteries. They are helping cardio – vascular system to function. This practice on long term can reduce blood pressure and improve circulation in the body. It is very common for a doctor to prescribe older population to eat more sea food, especially prawns because they can be helpful in fighting diseases like Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
3. Selenium – Many oncologists recommend their cancer patients to consume food that is rich in selenium because selenium can prevent the growth of cancer cells in the body. They release free radicals and clear the body from harmful material. Prawns are very rich in selenium.
4. Calcium – Since prawns are a very rich source of calcium it is perfect for teeth and bones.
5. Vitamin E and Vitamin B – Vitamin E that is found in large quantities in prawns, is fantastic for human skin, hair, and teeth. Vitamin B is great for the brain and neurologic functions in general, cardio system and heart. Prawns are very rich in these two vitamins.
6. Proteins – We are all familiar with one important nutrition rule: eat food that is rich in proteins, and low in carbo hydrates. Proteins are essential because the body needs proteins to function but also to repair its tissue or damage in the human body.
Note: Eat them in moderation, and watch out if you are allergic, you should avoid eating them.
Reheating prawns- yes or no?
Yes, yes and yes. It is completely safe to cook and reheat prawns because in that way you kill bacteria and microbes that are usually found in the sea food. That comes for all dishes that are containing prawns.
The prawn’s leftovers should be cooked to a temperature of around 165 degrees Fahrenheit ( 73 degrees Celsius) or higher. If you the handled and stored them correctly, you could reheat them at the same temperature as the one you cooked them. This way you kill pathogen that could be found in the sea food.
When we discuss raw prawns, they should be refrigerated at 40 F (a little above 0 degrees Celsius) or lower. They can stay refrigerated properly contained for about 48 hours.
How to cook them? First, you will recognize that prawns are fresh because they have a brittle shell, ten legs and they are bluey-grey or almost translucent. They should smell fresh, not fishy and should be moist.
Avoid dry and crack ones. When you cooked them, the shells turn pink. Meaty insides turn white and sweet. Don’t cook them long because the flesh will become firm. You should refrigerate leftovers within two hours of cooking. And in the end, you can keep them about three days after the initial preparation date.
Easy prawn recipe: put a few drops of olive oil in none sticking pan. Put a few cloves of garlic. Cook it for a few minutes. Place eight fresh middle sized prawns and cook them for about ten minutes. Season them with salt, pepper, and freshly chopped parsley. Enjoy.