Shellfish is not loaded with cholesterol

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

New testing methods suggest that shellfish can be included in a low-cholesterol diet after all.
It has long been believed that shellfish - mussels, scallops and lobster, for instance - is loaded with cholesterol. But now experts at the Mayo Clinic point out that this is not the case. Cholesterol is one of a group of chemical substances called sterols. In the past, lab analyses of foods grouped all sterols together. But more sophisticated methods show that the sterols in shellfish are mainly of the non-cholesterol type.

Added to this, shellfish is low in total fat and in saturated fat too, as well as being high in omega-3 fatty acids. So it is good to include prawns, mussels, crab and the like in a low-fat low-cholesterol diet. However, they should be grilled or steamed - and hold the butter or mayo if you want to keep the meal healthy.

Source
Mayo Clinic Health Letter April 2006

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