Iran’s Shrimp

Shrimp is a species of aquatic crustacean found in most of the world's waters, from saltwater to freshwater.Shrimp is an important food source for marine animal. Like other seafood, shrimp is rich in calcium, iodine, and protein, which play an important role in the food chain. Shrimp is the main option for people who love seafood because it is delicious and nutritious. Shrimp mixed with special herbs and spices tastes great. Add the many health benefits of shrimp to the unique taste and we have a superfood! Shrimp has many health benefits. It is a natural remedy for people with hypertension(high blood pressure) and rich in selenium- which has antioxidant properties. Shrimp help fight Alzheimer's, Anemia, and it is a source of protein and good cholesterol. According to nutritionists, eating shrimpevery week prevents Alzheimer’s and Dementia in old age, because shrimp is high in omega-3s.

Iran’s Farmed Shrimps

In Iran, 4 provinces in the south, including Bushehr, Sistan and Baluchestan, Hormozgan and Khuzestan, and Golestan province in the north, produce farmed shrimps.Aquaculture farmers use this type of shrimp, because vannamei shrimp has a high resistance to diseases and gain weight in a short time. As the most important shrimp production hub in Iran,Bushehr has entered the third decade of shrimp farming and with the cultivation of 20,000 tons of shrimp per year, it is the leading producer of shrimp farming in the country. Fluctuations in Bushehr shrimp production in some years happened because of white spot syndrome (WSS) and its side effectsbut aquaculture farmers have been successful in recovering from this temporary problem quickly.Shrimp production in Iran is over 50,000 tons per year and 90% of shrimpsare exported.By using the mechanization system such as compaction methods, assigning smaller farms(about one to two hectares), and harvesting shrimp twice a year, we will see Iran’s production of shrimp doubled in the future. Shrimp harvest starts from the beginning of September and continues until November.For every hectare of a shrimp farm, about 0.7 people are employed. Accordingly, on a 20-hectare farm, 14 people are directly employed. Iran's farmed shrimps are exported to Southeast Asia, China, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf, Russia, and Europe.Iran’s shrimphas all the global health and food safety requirements for fisheries and seafood including being free of antibiotics, fungicides, drugs, and shrimp preservatives.

Iran’s Marine Shrimp

In addition to farmed shrimp, there is also marine shrimp in the Persian Gulf and the Oman Sea in Iran. More than 70% of Iran'sstocks of shrimp in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman is green tiger shrimp.This type of shrimp is one of the best types in the Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman. The rest of the marine shrimp is Jinga shrimp. To control and check the status of shrimp stocks in the Persian Gulf, Iran fisheries organization announces the timing of shrimp fishing each year based on survey results and research patrols.Summer is the best season for shrimp fishing. Usually, July 30 is announced as the day to start shrimp fishing in the Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman.First, the boats and then the launches receive the fishing license.Studies show a big improvement in the status of shrimp stocks in Iranian waters. Based on this, it is expected that shrimp fishing in Iranian waters will increase compared to the past.

Qualities of Good shrimps

When buying shrimp, pay attention to how it looks. The features of good shrimp include color, head, abdomen, tail of shrimp, legs, shell and antennae, eyes, the smell, and the meat.When buying shrimp, Look for natural, light colors and avoid shrimps that are dark in color. If the head, abdomen, tail, and skin of the shrimp are black and the meat in the tail is somewhat yellow-green, it means the shrimp is not fresh or it is spoiled.If the head is a little black, but the meat in the tail is still shiny and clear, the shrimp is still fresh. The shells should be bright and firm. Sometimes, shrimps have a change in color called black spot or melanosis. Melanosis is not a disease and doesn’t mean the shrimp are spoiled. It is a reaction of the enzymes that happens because of natural amino acids and sunlight. So, shrimps with black spots are still healthy and fresh.The head, abdomen, and tail of the shrimp should be firm and completely connected, and if they are separated, it is a sign that the shrimp is spoiled. The legs, shell, and antennae of healthy shrimp must be firm, and if the antennae and legs are separated from each other or some of the skin is separated, this is a sign that the shrimp is not fresh and it is spoiled.The eyes of a healthy shrimp should be bright, shiny, and firm.Healthy shrimp should smell like sea or seaweed.Avoid shrimps that smell like ammonia. Healthy Shrimpshould have shiny, firm, white and juicy meat.

Health Benefits of Shrimp

Shrimp may be small, but it has many health benefits. You can enjoy the skyrocketing health benefits of shrimp If you add them to your diet. Shrimp is a popular, healthy, and delicious option for those who want to eat fewer carbohydrates.People don’t usually think of shrimp when they want to eat healthy food. If you are looking for a delicious meal or a favorite dinner, shrimp is an ideal choice that has many vitamins and nutrients. So, the next time you are searching for a new healthy meal, consider this seafood as well. Shrimp is an extremely nutritious food that provides the body with Iodine which is not easily found in many foods. The Iodine in shrimp is necessary for controlling thyroid function and brain health. On the other hand, some people say that because shrimp is high in cholesterol, it is unhealthy.

In this article, we discuss whether shrimp is a healthy food or not.

 

Shrimp is high in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids as well as natural antioxidants such as Astaxanthin which may improve health in different ways.Because shrimp is rich in omega-3, if you eat this superfood every week, it will prevent Alzheimer’s and Dementia in old age. Taking 380 milligrams of these fatty acids every day prevents Alzheimer’s and Dementia( memory loss ) and eating shrimp two to three times a week provides your body with this amount of fatty acids.People who do not eat red meat are in more danger of anemia due to low iron.100 grams of shrimp provides 19% of the body’s daily need for iron. So if you don’t like to eat red meat, you can eat shrimp every day to treat anemia easily and stay healthy.

If you are on a diet plan to lose weight, avoid fried shrimp because itis high in calory. Instead, enjoy the many health benefits of this protein-rich food by steaming it and adding spices like fresh lemon juice for lower calory and better taste.

Shrimp protects your heart and helps you live a long healthy life because this seafood is rich in Vitamin B12. B12 lowers homocysteine in the blood which is an important reason for cardiovascular diseases.

Selenium is important in rebuilding and repairing damaged DNA and it notably lowers the risk of cancer. Selenium plays a role in glutathione peroxidase enzyme activity, which neutralizes toxins in the liver. Eating 120 grams of shrimp every day provides 81.7%  of the body’s daily need for selenium.

Shrimp also has the amino acid tryptophan, which turnsinto niacin or vitamin B3 in the body. Niacin has many different roles in metabolism. Lack of Niacincauses muscle weakness, loss of appetite, digestion problems, and skin rashes, and its severe deficiency causes a disease called Pellagra. Symptoms include dry, dull and flaky skin as well as diarrhea and mental problems.

Tips for buying shrimp

Because shrimp spoils easily, make sure to buy it from reliable stores.If you decide to buy fresh shrimp, cut off the head as soon as possible because it is the first part of shrimp that spoils.Fresh shrimp should have a firm body attached to the shells. There should not be any black spots on shrimp shells because these spots are a sign of meat spoilage.Shrimp shells should not be yellow or sand-like because it is a sign of added chemicals to shrimp shells to make them white.If you are buying frozen shrimp, be sure to pay attention to the health license sign, production, and expiration date. High-quality shrimp should have a mild saltwater smell like the sea. Before buying shrimp, pay attention to how shrimp smells. Don’t buy shrimp that has a strange or bad smell like ammonia.

Storing Shrimps

Since seafood such as fish and shrimp are very sensitive to temperature, it is important to keep them cold. So, put shrimp or any other seafood you’ve bought in the refrigerator as soon as possible. After buying shrimp, If it takes you a somewhat long time to transfer it from your car to the refrigerator, put a Coleman cooler in your car and fill it with ice to make sure shrimps stay cold, and unspoiled. Usually, most home refrigerators have a slightly higher temperature thanthe ideal temperatures for storing seafood.An easy and safe way to reach the right temperature is to pack shrimp well, place it in a container with ice, and put it in the coldest place in the refrigerator. Make sure to change the ice once or twice a day to keep the shrimp container cold. This way, you can store the shrimp in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days, but you should eat the shrimps as soon as you can. If you want to store shrimp for a long time, pack it well and store it in the coldest place in the freezer for up to a month.To thawshrimps, place them in the refrigerator or put them in a bowl of cold water so the frozen shrimps melt gradually. Never thawshrimp at room temperature or use a microwavebecause doing so makes the shrimps lose nutrients and become dry.

Health Risks and Side Effects of Shrimp

Fish and shrimp are among foods that can cause allergy. So, if you have a potential for allergies or a history of them, consult a doctor or a nutritionist to learn more about the signs and symptoms of food allergy.Shrimp contains purine, which can turninto uric acid in the body. Too much uric acid and purines in the body can make side effects of kidney stones and diseases like gout worse. Because of this, it is best for kidney patients or people with gout to limit eating shrimps or avoid them.Try not to eat shrimps too often in a month.