Should you eat shrimp shells?

I read a lot of information that shrimp shells contain a lot of calcium, so I always try to eat them clean. However, sometimes I wonder if I should eat shrimp shells? (Hoang, 40 years old, Hanoi)

Reply:

Many people do not know whether shrimp shells or shrimp meat have more calcium. Many people do not like shrimp shells but still try to eat them because they think that calcium is mainly concentrated in this part. There are parents who force their children to eat shrimp with the shell in the hope that their children will grow taller thanks to the high calcium intake.

In fact, shrimp shells do not contain as much calcium as we mistakenly think. Shrimp shells are mainly made of chitin, a substance that helps create the shells of many animals - this substance is often not easily digested. This is one of the reasons why you should not eat shrimp shells if you have digestive problems, especially if you are sick. Children who eat too much shrimp shells will feel uncomfortable, can affect the body's absorption, and can cause choking and loss of appetite.

Shrimp contains a lot of calcium. This calcium is mainly found in the meat, legs and claws of shrimp. This is organic calcium, good for the body. Shrimp meat is not only a valuable source of calcium but also has a high vitamin D content. Shrimp is also rich in magnesium and phosphorus in a balanced ratio, so the calcium in shrimp meat is more easily absorbed by the body.

In general, when eating shrimp, it is best to only eat the meat, not the shell.

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Duy Thinh
Former lecturer at Institute of Biotechnology and Food Technology, Hanoi University of Science and Technology

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