Shrimp shells do contain significant calcium, but absorption rates are poor. For calcium to be absorbed, it must first dissolve. However, shrimp shells cannot be thoroughly crushed by human teeth. Even after exposure to stomach acid, only a small portion dissolves.Most calcium is excreted along with undigested residue. While dried shrimp can supplement calcium, its effectiveness is limited due to several issues:
1. Calcium in dried shrimp is poorly absorbed. Though rich in calcium—991mg per 100g, nine times that of milk—this calcium is difficult for the body to absorb.Due to their hard texture, teeth struggle to crush them thoroughly. Once in the gastrointestinal tract, stomach acid dissolves only a small portion, with most calcium excreted in feces. Only when crushed can the body absorb a fraction.
2. Shrimp shells contain high levels of salt. Their sodium content is exceptionally high, with 5057 milligrams per 100 grams of shrimp shells—equivalent to 12.64 grams of salt.The Chinese Nutrition Society recommends a daily salt intake of 6 grams per person. Consuming excessive salt from dried shrimp daily over the long term increases the risk of hypertension, coronary heart disease, and other conditions. Moreover, excessive salt intake can lead to calcium loss.
3. Shrimp flakes are consumed in small quantities. Being dry and lightweight, 100 grams of shrimp flakes occupy a large volume. Most people struggle to consume this much daily. When stir-fried or added to soups, typical daily intake is only about 10 grams. With such minimal consumption, the calcium obtained is negligible.
Thus, it's difficult to obtain sufficient calcium from dried shrimp to effectively supplement the body's calcium needs.
Therefore, milk is the superior calcium supplement:
While milk isn't the food with the highest calcium content, it contains lactose, vitamin D, and lysine—which enhance the absorption of calcium from milk.A single 250-gram carton of milk daily provides nearly 300 milligrams of calcium, making it the most absorbable calcium supplement among foods. Supplementing with dried shrimp offers little benefit; milk provides the most effective calcium supplementation.