3 Health Benefits of Eating Chicken and More

From curries to pizza, chicken forms an essential part of almost all of our recipes. Practically all occasions remain incomplete without a chicken dish. Although that’s because there’s always that one person who wouldn’t eat any meat but chicken, the chicken still retains its unique importance on our dining tables.

And you know, it’s good to know what you eat. So, let’s discover the true potential of this very-essential ingredient and see how beneficial it is to our health.

Nutritional Value of Chicken 

In terms of nutrition, chicken is an all-rounder. Its nutrition-specifics are such that it fits well into keto-diet, paleo-diet, regular diet, and all sorts of diet plans.

To begin, let us first consider the protein content of chicken meat. Generally, chicken provides all the nine types of amino acids that are body demands from external food sources (the body can make the rest eleven). Thus, chicken offers complete protein. Certainly, the amount varies depending on the quantity of consumption and method of cooking. But on average, the white part (such as the breast) contains more protein than the darker part (such as the thigh). Also, it’s low in collagen. Hence, chicken’s easy to digest in comparison to other meats.

Similarly, the darker parts contain higher amounts of saturated fat, while the whiter ones contain lower. But when it comes to carbs, you’d be surprised to know that white or dark; there are no carbs in chicken! That’s what makes it an ideal high-protein, low-fat foodstuff.

Chicken is also an excellent source of micro-nutrients like Vitamin B3, Riboflavin, Selenium, Potassium, and Vitamin B6. Moreover, chicken is relatively low in calories, especially with the skin removed.

3-Health Benefits of Eating Chicken  

With a nutrient-dense profile, the chicken comes with a variety of health benefits. It has several vitamins and minerals that supply an abundance of benefits to the human body. Below are three primary health benefits of eating chicken.

Protein-Rich Source 

A 3.5-oz boneless chicken portion offers around 62% of protein, which makes it the most dominant nutrient in its composition. Protein forms cells, tissues, and muscles in our bodies. It generates more cells and repairs the damaged ones. Hence, showing the consumption of high-protein sources, such as chicken, can boost muscle development and overall health.

Helps in Weight Loss 

According to studies, the consumption of high-protein sources assists in weight loss and prevents problems, such as obesity. It is primarily because high-protein foods make you feel full and encourage you to eat lesser calories. Meanwhile, it supplies with lesser fats.   

Augments Metabolism 

Chicken is lean meat, and eating it can speed up your metabolism. It is because chicken requires more energy to digest fully, and hence, it boosts the metabolism of your body.

Potential Side Effects 

Undeniably, consuming chicken can provide us with great benefits. However, this does not mean that chicken is entirely safe. Everything comes with pros and cons. Here are the potential side effects of eating chicken.

Chicken with or without skin has considerably large amounts of cholesterol. Some people think that chicken has lower cholesterol when compared to beef, but they are greatly mistaken.

A 3.5-oz portion of beef provides 89mg of cholesterol, whereas chicken provides 85mg in an equivalent portion. Hence, proving that both the meats have dense quantities of cholesterol, which can be harmful to the heart and blood-circulatory system related parts. 

Usually, people use high-temperature cooking for poultry, which triggers the formation of harmful substances in chicken, such as HCA and Carcinogenic compounds. As a result, these harmful substances may lead to cancer development or other health issues.

Moreover, the usage of growth hormones and bacteria resistance chemicals in chicken breeding is a serious matter of concern. These substances can linger longer in the chicken meat, even after processing. Hence, exposing us to harmful chemicals.  

Perhaps, the only effective way of minimizing these cons is to choose healthy methods of eating. For example, roost or boil chicken rather than deep frying. And, also, we should always purchase chicken from reliable brands.

What is the difference between Organic and Regular Chicken? 

Well, with time, we see that the popularity of organic foodstuffs is soaring high. Be it, vegetables, or chicken, the case is very much the same. Consequently, consumers face difficulty in choosing between the two.

But let us inform you that you need not worry when it comes to chicken. That’s because both these variants more or less have similar nutritional content. The difference only lies in the skin.

The skin of the regular chicken has greater fat content, while the skin of the organic chicken does not have as much. Similarly, the regular chicken has slightly greater calorie content in comparison to the organic one. Other than that, there are no noteworthy differences.