Shrimp are low in calories

One medium shrimp equals about 7 calories, which means a dozen add up to less than 85 calorie – roughly 15 less than a 3-ounce chicken breast. One jumbo shrimp contains about 14 calories and a teaspoon of cocktail sauce provides 5, so 3 jumbo shrimp, each with a teaspoon of cocktail sauce add up to less than 60 calories.

Shrimp are protein-rich

Shrimp are primarily made of protein and water. Three ounces of baked or broiled shrimp provide 20 grams of protein and each jumbo shrimp provides about 3 grams with very little fat and carbohydrates.

Shrimp provide many key nutrients

Shrimp provide a pretty impressive array of nutrients. For example, four ounces of steamed shrimp contain over 100% of the Daily Value of selenium, over 75% vitamin B12 and over 50% of phosphorous. Shrimp also contain two types of important antioxidants - selenium, an important antioxidant that helps fight free radicals, and astaxanthin which is shown to help reduce inflammation – a known trigger of aging and disease.