How Does This Ayurvedic Food Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

Rich, dense and satisfying in nature, the celebratory shrimp is a fun favorite at parties. The little crustaceans are popcorn sized for easy consumption, making an elegant hors d'oeuvres for any festive occasion.

Some of the ways we commonly enjoy shrimp is alongside a spicy horseradish cocktail sauce, in a savory white wine butter sauce or with more tropical flavors like cilantro and lime. These tiny morsels spark feelings of satisfaction and, for many, nostalgia because they so often appear at special occasions. Is it any surprise that we have such a love for shrimp?

John Immel, founder of Joyful Belly, recalls, "As a boy I used to go to "Beefsteak Charlie's" on Wednesday nights at the mall, which was kids-eat-free night. They had an all you could eat salad bar with shrimp. I used to eat 3-4 platefulls of shrimp with my dad. It is a fond memory I'll never forget. The average American consumes over 4lbs of these tiny ocean-dwellers every year, making it America's most popular fish.

Footnote: The information for this article was in part gathered from a 2019 study and survey of 22 students of Ayurveda who experimented with shrimp. During the study, students ate shrimp for 3 days and journaled the pharmacological effects. This study was sponsored by the Joyful Belly School of Ayurveda, and specifically the Mastering Ayurvedic Digestion & Nutrition certification course.

Sweet but Easy to Digest

Shrimp is sweet tasting/ One student said, "scallop and shrimp are like dessert, a little goes a long way."
They are also heavy in nature, making it a grounding, satisfying food that nourishes the body (a quality called ojas-building in Ayurveda). Another student reported, ""I like the rich flavor of the hot and gooey substance inside the head and I always suck on it feeling a fountain of nourishment."" These qualities make shrimp ideal for a person trying to rebuild their strength.

Many students reported that the shrimp was dense and some even said "fibrous". One student described shrimp as "chewy and squeaky", like biting into a "warm piece of rubber". Another said it had the consistency of organ meat, but without the fat.

Despite the richness of shrimp, it is easily digested by the body so you'll likely still feel light and energetic after eating it. Maybe that's why some people can eat plate after plate of shrimp in one sitting!

Warm, Energizing

Shrimp is known to help circulation of blood, which naturally warms the body. The heat of shrimp is slow, like warming a hearth. Their warmth radiates through the body. Some of our students saw these qualities in action, with one student extolling the pleasant effects of a "gentle increase in blood flow, with my blood moving more freely." Another said, "my chest felt comfortably warm." A third exclaimed, "I felt warmed up with a slight pulse going in my ears." Shrimp's saltiness can also increase heat in the body.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, prawns and shrimp are known for their ability to tonify qi and yang, as well as regulating blood circulation, eliminating cold and resolving phlegm. Shrimp's heat can be too warming for those of pitta dosha. Find your dosha here.

Brain Food

Shrimp is brain food. It nourishes the nervous system (majja vaha srotas) with its rich, oily, sweet qualities. It is rich in Omega 3 fatty acids and the antioxidant astaxanthin, which nourish healthy brain function. The Omega 3 fatty acids and other nutrients in shrimp feed an overstimulated, depleted Vata or Pitta brain, while its relaxing qualities improve Vata's focus.

Energizing

Shrimp builds energy and warmth while nourishing instead of depleting you. This is in contrast to foods like coffee, which only activate energy but deplete your body in the end because they do not provide the underlying fuel.

After experimenting with shrimp, some students are considering swapping it for their morning coffee! They reported, "I felt energized which naturally improved my mood and focus tremendously. It had way better effects than coffee! Shrimp has enough fire to activate, but is earthy and grounding. I felt calm and alert - my eyes feel clearer and my mood is stable and focused. I feel really good, at my optimal performance."

Another said, "Shrimp could be my jam in the morning. It kept me really satisfied and kept my blood sugar stable long into the day. I had excellent energy throughout the day." Maybe energizing satisfaction is why shrimp and grits are a new Southern breakfast favorite? What do you think, would you trade your cup of Joe for a plate of shrimp?

For one student, the energizing effects were too much, "I had vivid dreams while eating shrimp, so perhaps it is a little stimulating (rajasic in nature) for me."

High Cholesterol but Low in Calories

Shrimp are low in calories but high in protein. They also contain good levels of iron, magnesium, zinc and vitamin B12. From a nutritional standpoint, they are relatively balancing for all three doshas. However, the relaxing and warming effects make it ideal for Vata dosha

Of shrimp's oiliness, one student said, "My body felt moisturized and well lubricated like a well oiled machine". Another described shrimp as having a "greasy feel, a slight oily presence that coated my tongue."

Shrimp has been shunned by some because it is high in cholesterol. New research debunks the myth blackballing high cholesterol foods. Only 25% of the population is sensitive to dietary cholesterol. For the other 75%, a high cholesterol diet has little effect on blood cholesterol levels. Cholesterol is produced in the liver. High cholesterol foods can actually reduce the need for the liver to produce cholesterol.

One study found that shrimp boosts HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol) by 12% and reduced triglycerides by 13% - both good for heart health. It is very high in selenium, good for heart health. Shrimp is also very high in iodine which is good for thyroid health, and therefore metabolic health as well.