Shrimp belong to crustaceans. Their length can vary from 2 to 27 cm. Most often, shrimp are painted in shades such as pink and coral. The product can be considered low-calorie. Shrimp are low in fat.
The product contains many useful substances:
- potassium;
- fluorine;
- molybdenum;
- magnesium;
- iron;
- zinc;
- vitamin E;
- folic acid;
- vitamin K.
- intolerance to the smell of shrimp;
- allergic reaction to the product;
- high cholesterol in the body.
- the appearance of an allergic rash on the body;
- runny nose;
- labored breathing;
- the occurrence of edema.
- fresh cucumbers;
- apples of various varieties;
- lettuce leaves.
- 0.5 kg of boiled shrimp;
- 9 cherry tomatoes;
- 150 g crab sticks;
- 1 fresh cucumber;
- 1 bunch of green lettuce;
- 30 g sour cream;
- 2 cloves of garlic;
- 4 sprigs of dill;
- salt;
- a small amount of black ground pepper.
Shrimps contain quite a lot of iodine and copper. They are much more abundant in crustaceans than in other animal products.
Shrimps help to quickly satisfy hunger, they provide a feeling of satiety for a long time. Crustaceans contain a lot of phosphorus, which allows you to keep your teeth in good condition while waiting for the baby, increases the strength of bone tissue. The potassium present in the product has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the heart.
Deficiency of nutrients during pregnancy can lead to negative consequences. With a lack of iron, appetite often decreases, and the risk of contracting acute respiratory diseases increases. With a deficiency of copper and zinc, serious complications such as premature birth, miscarriage, and bleeding can occur. With insufficient magnesium content in the body of a pregnant woman, the state of the nervous system worsens. The expectant mother complains of fatigue, fatigue, anxiety and irritability.
Product harm during pregnancy
Shrimps are not recommended to be eaten in large quantities, since the inhabitants of the sea have the ability to accumulate heavy metals in themselves. The product may contain a hazardous substance such as arsenic. In addition, shrimp contain quite a lot of cholesterol. With an excessive content of it in the body, the likelihood of the formation of atherosclerotic plaques increases.
The use of the product in food should be discarded in the following cases:
Shrimps are recommended to be eaten no more than twice a week. The optimal daily portion of crustaceans is approximately 150 g. In the last months of pregnancy, shrimp should be excluded from the diet if possible. Seafood provokes an allergic reaction in the unborn baby. If the fair sex has never tried shrimp before pregnancy, it is recommended to postpone “acquaintance” with the inhabitants of the sea in order to avoid serious consequences. When included in the diet of shrimp, allergies can occur.
The following signs indicate the presence of an allergic reaction to the product:
If these symptoms appear, a pregnant woman should contact a medical institution. While waiting for the baby, it is recommended to refuse other products that provoke an allergic reaction. These include, first of all, citrus fruits, red apples, chocolate products.
Ways to eat crustaceans
Shrimps are usually eaten boiled. They should not be eaten raw. The optimal cooking time for seafood is seven minutes. After pre-treatment, the crustaceans should acquire a pleasant, pale pink hue.
A pregnant woman should not buy ready-made shrimp sea cocktails. Such dishes often contain spicy seasonings and other unhealthy additives.
When preparing shrimp dishes during pregnancy, you do not need to abuse spicy seasonings. First of all, it concerns vinegar and spices.
The ideal option for eating shrimp during pregnancy is to prepare a light, nutritious salad. The following foods go well with crustaceans:
Shrimps are best digested with fresh fruits and vegetables.
Simple seafood salad
Shrimp salads are considered a gourmet dish. There are many different recipes for preparing delicious and nutritious dishes.
A pregnant woman can cook a salad of shrimp and crab sticks. To do this, stock up on the following ingredients in advance:
Salad of shrimp and crab sticks is prepared according to the following scheme:
- First you need to thoroughly wash the cucumber.
- Vegetables are peeled. It is cut into neat strips.
- It is necessary to peel the garlic, then it must be slightly crushed with a knife.
- After that, finely chop the dill.
- Thawed shrimp should be scalded with boiling water.
- Seafood is freed from shells and heads.
- Then you need to carefully cut the appropriate amount of crab sticks.
- Wash cherry tomatoes.
- Vegetables are carefully cut into equal halves.
- It is necessary to mix cherry tomatoes, dill and other salad ingredients.
- Salt and ground black pepper are added to the dish - to taste.
- Mix the ingredients thoroughly, add sour cream.
- Then you need to put green lettuce leaves on a dish with a deep bottom. They must be thoroughly rinsed to eliminate existing contamination.
- A pre-cooked salad is laid on green leaves.
You can additionally decorate the dish with shrimp or herbs.
How to choose the right seafood?
Before making a purchase, you should pay close attention to the manufacturer of the product and the packaging of the product. If the crustaceans are in a colored bag that does not allow you to distinguish the shade of shrimp, you should not buy them.
The table shows the main features of the spoiled product.
Seafood is allowed to eat during pregnancy. But the expectant mother should not forget about the basic rules for eating shrimp.
Expectant mothers try to eat fully and healthy, so that the baby in the womb receives all the substances necessary for its growth. It is especially important to pay attention to the sufficient intake of protein, which a pregnant woman can get from fish, meat, cheese, milk, and so on. Shrimps are also one of the useful protein products, but some caution is required with them during the bearing of a child.
What are useful?
Doctors call shrimp a valuable product for expectant mothers, in which there is a lot of protein, and, on the contrary, there are very few carbohydrates and fats. They are low-calorie and very quickly absorbed, do not provoke weight gain and help overcome the habit of eating salty snacks, such as crackers or chips. Such seafood products are rich in:
- copper and iron due to which their use is useful for hematopoiesis and increases activity;
- iodine, very important for the functioning of the thyroid gland;
- omega fats involved in metabolic reactions and helping to prevent many diseases;
- phosphorus, which is important for teeth and bone tissue;
- zinc helping to maintain healthy nails and beautiful skin;
- potassium essential for myocardial health;
- selenium able to strengthen the immune system and protect against active oxygen;
- astaxanthin, being a strong antioxidant.
Shrimp are especially useful for city dwellers, because they suffer more from low oxygen levels and are susceptible to the negative effects of the industrial environment.
Are they allowed during pregnancy?
Doctors do not forbid shrimp for women in position: if they are eaten within reasonable limits, and listen to the reaction of their own body. On the contrary, according to doctors, in the early stages, this delicacy will support the proper development of the embryo. The proteins, fatty acids and microelements contained in such seafood will have a beneficial effect on the development of the nervous and skeletal systems of the baby.
However, there are limitations to eating shrimp. First of all, it is an increased risk of allergies. If a woman enjoyed these seafood before pregnancy, and there were no problems, then she can safely include shrimp in her menu while in position. If, before conception, such “sea dwellers” were not included in the diet, and the woman wanted them while carrying the baby for the first time, increased caution is necessary.
Many doctors, in general, do not recommend starting an acquaintance with shrimp and other marine products during pregnancy. However, with a strong desire, this is permissible. The first portion of seafood should be no more than 1-2 pieces. After eating shrimp, you should carefully observe if there is a negative reaction to them. If at least one of the allergic symptoms appears (skin rash, shortness of breath, swelling of the limbs, itching of the skin, redness of the eyes, runny nose), you should immediately consult a doctor and forget about such a treat at least until the end of breastfeeding.
To reduce the risk of allergies in the baby, the expectant mother should not eat too many shrimp in one sitting, even if there was no negative reaction to them before pregnancy. Doctors recommend limiting yourself to a portion of 100-200 grams, eating it 1-2 times a week. It is important to boil the product well, as insufficient heat treatment can lead to poisoning. It is not recommended to eat any seafood raw while waiting for the baby.
By the way, if a woman cooked shrimp for herself and suddenly changed her mind about eating them because of an unpleasant smell or taste, there is no need to force yourself, despite all the benefits of this product. Eating shrimp through force will only worsen your appetite and have a bad effect on your mood.. If there is an aversion to them, you can easily replace the shrimp with other seafood or sea fish.
Some doctors recommend eating seafood only in the first trimester, and in the second or third to refuse such food. This is due to an increased risk of allergies in the baby, which can appear soon after birth. Another factor limiting the use of shrimp is the level of cholesterol in the blood of a woman.
If it has been increased, then shrimp on the menu of such pregnant women are not welcome, because their composition includes this substance in a fairly large amount.
How to cook?
Taking frozen shrimp, they should be washed under water to remove the ice crust and contamination. Next, the product is lowered into salted water, which boiled, after which it is cooked for about 7 minutes until the moment when the seafood begins to float on the surface and acquire a pale pink color. If a boiled-frozen dish is used, then it is enough to dip the seafood in boiling water for 3-5 minutes, because they have already undergone heat treatment. It is important not to digest the product - this will make it "rubber".
Boiled shrimp can be consumed without any additives both hot and cold. But most often they are added to other dishes, for example, chopped vegetables or pasta, diet soups and original snacks. Shellfish goes well with fresh cucumber and green salad, but will be very tasty with fruit.
Purchase and storage
It is advisable to buy seafood in a store, carefully examining the goods and preferring trusted manufacturers. Before buying, you need to make sure of freshness by finding the production date and expiration date on the packaging. When holding a bag of frozen shrimp in your hands, make sure that they do not stick together, which often happens in situations where the product is re-frozen.
It is better to buy goods in transparent packaging, which allows you to verify the quality of seafood. If the shrimps have dark legs, then such a product is “old”, and if they are covered with white spots, then they are most likely frozen. Sea inhabitants with a dark head are of low quality, and if there are yellowish bumps or spots, they are advised to refuse to use them.
Expectant mothers should not buy shrimp on the market. Such a product, as a rule, is deprived of the necessary certificates and certificates, and the conditions for its storage are doubtful. In addition, when buying on the market, a pregnant woman cannot be sure that mercury and other heavy metals are absent in tender shrimp meat. Such substances are extremely dangerous for the fetus, especially for its nervous system. For this reason it is much safer to buy shrimp in the store, because they have been tested taking into account GOSTs.
If a woman is not going to boil seafood right away or has bought a lot of shrimp, then they should be transported home from the store as soon as possible and put in the freezer until the “sea dwellers” are defrosted. It is permissible to store them at sub-zero temperatures no longer than indicated by the manufacturer. But boiled shrimp to store, in general, is not recommended. They should be eaten immediately after cooking, because this product deteriorates very quickly.
As for ready-made products with shrimp, which are sold in the store, then it is important to read the label carefully. Many of them have a lot of spices and vinegar, preservatives and other harmful substances are added.
They can provoke heartburn and other unpleasant phenomena, therefore, if possible, expectant mothers should refuse canned seafood.
For information on whether pregnant women can eat shrimp, see the next video.
Various food products have a certain set of both useful and harmful substances. That is why it is very important for pregnant women to monitor what is worth eating and what food is better to refuse.
Seafood is not so easy. For example, shrimp during pregnancy can bring both benefit and harm to the body of the expectant mother and baby.
The benefits of shrimp for pregnant women
Shrimps are considered a low-calorie delicacy, because. contain virtually no fat. In addition, they contain useful substances:
- minerals (iron, zinc, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, copper, iodine);
- vitamins of groups B, A, E, K, C;
- Omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids.
Shrimps are considered a valuable and healthy product, especially in early pregnancy. They are helping:
- quickly satisfy hunger and give a feeling of satiety for a long time;
- strengthen immunity;
- reduce the risk of developing pathologies in the fetus;
- prevent anemia, beriberi, thyroid problems;
- increase the elasticity of blood vessels, reduce the risk of developing blood clots.
Also, a rich mineral composition allows you to preserve the beauty of hair and nails, quickly increase the amount of circulating blood in the body of a woman and a child, keep teeth in good condition and prevent the development of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Shrimps are effective in preventing rectal ailments, which can often bother expectant mothers.
Possible harm
Doctors rarely recommend eating shrimp during pregnancy. This is due to the fact that the habitat of crustaceans is currently polluted with various toxic and chemical substances. For the same reason, you can not eat raw shrimp, because. increases the risk of food poisoning.
Expectant mothers with individual intolerance to seafood are also prohibited from consuming such delicacies. An allergic reaction will lead to dangerous symptoms that can harm the female body and fetus:
- rashes;
- itching in the mouth;
- peeling of the skin;
- headache;
- allergic rhinitis;
- anaphylactic shock.
If an allergy occurs, a woman should consult a doctor. Since many drugs are contraindicated for pregnant women, the duration of treatment can be very long. With drug therapy, adverse reactions often occur that lead to the development of complications in the fetus.
In what form is it better for pregnant women to eat shrimp?
Firstly, during pregnancy, shrimp is not recommended to be consumed raw, along with spicy seasonings, as well as too often or in large portions. Secondly, seafood dishes should not be stored in the refrigerator for too long, because. after repeated freezing, crustaceans lose their beneficial properties.
The ideal option for consumption is light salads with boiled shrimp, vegetables or fruits. This will lower cholesterol levels and bring more benefits to the mother's body. Sea delicacy goes well with apples, lettuce, spinach, broccoli, green peas, fresh cucumbers and carrots.
Cook shrimp should be no more than 3-5 minutes after boiling. If overcooked, the meat will become tougher and tasteless. Rinse shrimp thoroughly with warm water before cooking to remove dirt and ice.
You can cook seafood with or without spices. The main thing is not to overdo it with spices, as they interrupt the taste and aroma of the sea delicacy.
Readiness can be determined by the color of the shell, which will become more transparent, as well as by the ascent of carcasses to the surface of the water. When this happens, the shrimp must be transferred to a colander and decant the water.
Boiled rice is ideal as a side dish for boiled shrimp. It can be seasoned with soy or tomato sauce.
Rules for choosing and purchasing a safe product
Not everyone has the opportunity to purchase fresh shrimp, because. for this you need to live near the sea. In stores and supermarkets, they are usually sold frozen, but this does not mean that they are fresh, so you should pay attention to the date of packaging of the product and its appearance.
The presence of white spots or stripes indicates that the product has been in the freezer for a long time - the shrimp were packed more than a month ago, and there will be no benefit for the pregnant woman. If there are no white spots or stripes, but black blotches are observed instead, then the sea delicacy should also be discarded. Such marks on the paws indicate that the shrimp are old and will turn into porridge when cooked.
Sometimes manufacturers try to mask spots and inclusions with the help of special food dyes, and then the carcass acquires a yellowish tint. It is better not to buy such products, because. you can become seriously ill. Strong food dyes cause allergies, kidney and liver diseases, and also negatively affect the nervous system of a woman and increase the risk of developing congenital pathologies in an infant.
In addition, women should not buy ready-made sea cocktails or shrimp along with spices. The shelf life of such products is small, about 5-7 days. In addition, manufacturers often add vinegar or too spicy spices to such shrimp. This increases the shelf life by 2-3 times, but at the same time, the risk of getting poisoned increases.
Paying attention to all the features, a pregnant woman will always know that she is buying a fresh and natural product. It will not harm the body, and in some cases it will even be very useful.
If earlier shrimp were used only to decorate salads and other festive dishes, now it is a common food that is prepared for lunch or dinner, and also served as a beer snack. And despite the fact that they are expensive and resemble seeds, seafood lovers are ready to give any money and give up meat.
Unfortunately, during pregnancy, women must exclude certain foods from the diet, and in some cases consume them, but very carefully. This is because any non-compliance with recommendations and advice can harm not only you, but also your baby, who eats with you. For example, it is better to exclude shrimp during pregnancy in the last weeks, due to the high risk of developing allergies. In the third trimester of pregnancy, the child's immune system is already well developed, so even the usual foods consumed throughout pregnancy can cause allergies.
However, do not think that shrimp cannot be eaten during pregnancy. It is quite possible and even necessary, but extremely carefully and in small quantities. Due to the fact that they contain high nutritional value and include fatty acids and animal protein, they are very useful for the development and growth of the child (especially in the first and second trimester of pregnancy).
So, is it possible to shrimp during pregnancy?
Conclusion: it is possible, but in small quantities. Before you prepare a delicious dish with shrimp, make sure that they do not cause allergies in you. To do this, eat 1-2 boiled shrimp 3 hours before lunch (dinner), and if there are no signs of allergy during this time, then you can safely eat a dish with overseas ingredients.
We remind you that the main signs of an allergy are: a rash on the skin, itching, swelling on the hands, feet, face, runny nose, shortness of breath, redness of the eyes.
If you observe at least one of these signs, immediately call an ambulance so that you can be provided with qualified and prompt assistance.
Important! If you have never tried shrimp before pregnancy, then it is better not to experiment for 9 months. Stick to your usual diet, excluding from it foods that often cause an allergic reaction: citrus fruits, chocolate, red apples, exotic foods (including shrimp).
What are the benefits of shrimp during pregnancy?
It cannot be said that shrimp during pregnancy are very useful. Shelled seafood tastes like edible chewing gum, which is high in protein. For example, 100 g of shrimp contains the daily requirement of protein, i.e. 47%. But they do not contain extra calories and carbohydrates. 100 g of the product contains only 105 calories. In addition, they contain iron, zinc, copper, phosphorus, selenium and magnesium.
For those who do not know what each of the trace elements is responsible for, let's take a look in detail. So:
Iron . The lack of this trace element in the body threatens with colds and viral diseases, shortness of breath, vegetovascular dystonia, decreased appetite.
Zinc and copper. If there is a lack of copper and zinc in the body, then this can lead to serious complications during pregnancy: bleeding, miscarriage, premature birth.
Phosphorus is responsible for the preservation of your bones and teeth, and during pregnancy, for the development of the skeletal system in the fetus.
Lack of magnesium in the body threatens with rapid overwork, depression and irritability.
Now you know that during pregnancy, shrimp can be consumed in small quantities, however, if you do not have an allergic reaction to them, and also with the exception of the third trimester of pregnancy.
There is a lot of controversy about the benefits and harms of shrimp during pregnancy. Some perceive the sea delicacy as the strictest taboo, while others, on the contrary, seek to introduce it into the diet as often as possible. 
In fact, doctors do not prohibit seafood for expectant mothers, but they focus on buying a quality product, its proper heat treatment and moderate portions.
Important! For your own safety, only buy seafood from reputable stores. Avoid products with opened or damaged packaging. When choosing frozen shrimp, give preference to those that are in the refrigerator as deep as possible.
Doctors advise introducing shrimp into the diet, even for those who have not tried them before. But at the same time, it is important to start with minimal portions and carefully monitor the reaction of your body.
Seafood should not be abused: to support her body and adequate nutrition of the fetus, the expectant mother is allowed to eat 100–150 g of sea delicacy 2–3 times a week. If there is no particular addiction to such food, then there is no need to force yourself to do so. 
The benefits of gourmet dishes based on the inhabitants of the sea will be if the following conditions are met:
- purchase a high-quality and fresh product, avoiding markets and spontaneous trade (be sure to ask the sellers about the availability of quality certificates and the shelf life of the goods being sold);
- the ingredient must undergo sufficient heat treatment;
- correctly combine boiled shrimp with other ingredients of the dishes, because when they are used in combination with an excessive amount of vinegar, spices, as well as in combination with tangerine juice, milkshakes, tea and milk, pregnant women may experience heartburn, an eating disorder in the stomach or serious poisoning, gastritis and an allergic reaction.
Did you know? In Hinduism, it is strictly forbidden to eat crustaceans..
After 22 weeks of intrauterine development of the fetus, such delicacies will need to be completely abandoned. The fact is that by this period the fetus will have already formed its own immune system, so foods that can provoke an allergic reaction are highly undesirable in the mother’s diet. 
Benefit
According to the International Institutes of Nutrition, seafood contains almost no fat, but the amount of protein and minerals is superior to that of poultry and mammals. For the embryo and future mother, this nuance is very important, since proteins are cellular building materials.
Did you know? The largest type of crustacean is the tiger shrimp. Her body can reach 36 cm in length with a weight of 650 g.
Due to the rich chemical composition and beneficial properties, doctors recommend using shrimp for pregnant women.
In particular, their benefits are:
- supplying the body of the mother and the nascent embryo with useful nutrients;
- promoting the correct formation of the skeletal and nervous systems of the unborn baby;
- easy digestibility;
- saturation with iodine, which is important for the prevention of ailments provoked by a deficiency of this microelement;
- improvement of the blood formula;
- stimulation of the full functioning of all internal organs in conditions of environmental pollution;
- mineral balance control;
- providing the expectant mother with a charge of vital energy;
- normalization of metabolic processes;
- improving the condition of hair, nails and skin.
Harm and Precautions
Excessive passion for this delicacy and the choice of low-quality goods can lead to serious health problems.
cooking secrets
In the culinary world, there are many recipes in which shellfish are boiled, stewed, baked and fried. However, for pregnant women, boiled low-fat foods with the maximum amount of nutrients are recommended.
Important! According to the University of Oregon, frequent consumption of seafood can lead to chronic poisoning and the accumulation of toxins. Researchers attribute this fact to global warming and an increase in the amount of domoic acid in ocean waters. It is characteristic that this poison does not lose its activity even after heat treatment.
In order for the delicacy to provide the body with vital energy and satisfy gastronomic needs, experienced housewives advise:
- Give preference to small shrimp caught in the northern seas. Usually on the package they are calibrated like this: 50/70, 70/90, 90/120. If there are no numbers on the package, then there is a sorter inside.
- Preferable product in transparent bags so that you can see the appearance of the shrimp. They must be covered with a thin transparent ice layer, which indicates a one-time freezing of seafood immediately after catching. Thick snow or ice cover is a sign of re-freezing and low-quality goods.
- Before cooking, crustaceans are thawed and cleaned. For this purpose, it is necessary to separate the neck from the body and remove the shell from it. It is also important to remove part of the shrimp's digestive tract, which is a hollow vein. When pressed, a dark substance is released from it, which spoils the appearance and taste of the dish. To successfully extract this thread-like part, you will need a sharp kitchen knife or a special device that resembles an awl. The outer side of the tail zone is cut with a tool, after which the edges are carefully pushed apart and the intestine is pulled out.
- Boil the cleaned and washed product in lightly salted water, keeping on fire for up to 7-10 minutes after boiling. Keep in mind that the seafood will reach its readiness when its outer color changes to orange-pink, and the insides become pure white and opaque. Remember that overcooking will turn the delicacy into rubber. After cooking, the shrimp are strained with a colander.
- If you purchased a finished product, you can use it as a snack. However, experts do not advise expectant mothers to experiment with such tastings - it is better to cook marine crustaceans on your own.
- For women in an interesting position, shrimp can be used to make soups, salads, tempura, appetizers, side dishes.
- If you have to deal with a boiled-frozen ingredient, it is enough to dip it in boiling water for 3 minutes. The cooking time is reduced due to the previous heat treatment of the shrimp.
Now you know what to fear when choosing and eating shrimp and how to get the most out of them for your health and the health of your unborn baby. Important! When buying frozen shrimp, pay attention to their appearance and the contents of the package. The presence of snow inside indicates that the product has been thawed and refrozen several times; the faded or yellow color of the shrimp indicates frostbite and long-term storage of the goods, and the straight tails of marine life indicate the freezing of dead specimens; black spots on the body and head are a sign of illness.
Do not forget that an exotic delicacy, in addition to vital minerals and vitamins, can be filled with heavy metals and toxins.
Therefore, it is important to know the measure and choose only high-quality crustaceans.