This shrimp recipe makes for a perfect snack or dinner party appetizer. Filled with bold flavours and bright colours, this shrimp recipe also has an impressive nutrition profile.

Specifically, shrimp are a wonderful support for your thyroid gland. 

The thyroid is a gland that is located near the base of your neck and is responsible for releasing a host of hormones. These hormones play an important role throughout the body. The mineral iodine and selenium contained in shrimp help support the thyroid and the release of hormones.

Shrimp is an excellent source of iodine, which is an essential mineral for the production of thyroid hormones. Studies show that individuals with iodine deficiency are at a higher risk for hypothyroidism, a condition where the thyroid does not release enough hormones (1). This makes shrimp an important consideration in thyroid health as iodine is not commonly abundant in many foods.

Shrimp is also a great source of selenium, containing almost half of the recommended daily intake in 85 grams (2). Selenium is important as it helps to “activate” thyroid hormones (3). Additionally, selenium can act as an antioxidant which has been shown to protect the thyroid from inflammation (4).

It is important to ensure that extra virgin olive oil is used to prepare this shrimp. This oil is regarded as one of the healthiest fats, which is partly due to the antioxidants it contains (5). These antioxidants provide protection from damage from free radicals, including protecting the thyroid.

When making this shrimp, add in some extra red pepper flakes for more heat if you desire!

If you like this recipe, you might love our 1-Week Thyroid-Supporting meal plan, with more recipes designed for the thyroid that the whole family will enjoy!

1. Zimmerman, M., & Boelaert, K. (2015). Iodine deficiency and thyroid disorders. The Lancet. Diabetes and Endocrinology. 3(4), 286-295. doi: 10.1016/S2213-8587(14)70225-6 
2. https://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/finfish-and-shellfish-products/4174/2 
3. Ventura, M., Melo, M., & Carrilho, F. (2017). Selenium and Thyroid Disease: From Pathophysiology to Treatment. International Journal of Endocrinology, 2017, 1297658. doi: 10.1155/2017/1297658 
4. Negro, R. (2008). Selenium and thyroid autoimmunity. Biologics: Targets and Therapy. 2(2), 265-273. doi: 10.2147/btt.s2746 
5. Beauchamp, G., Keast, R., Morel, D., Lin, J., Pika, J., Han, Q., … & Breslin, P. (2005). Phytochemistry: ibuprofen-like activity in extra-virgin olive oil. Nature, 437(7055), 45-46. doi: 10.1038/437045a