Why Should You Eat Chicken Meat?

The chicken’s finest hour came in 2004 when an international team of geneticists produced a complete genome map of the chicken. The chicken was the first domesticated animal, the first bird and, therefore, the first descendant of the dinosaurs to be so honoured.

The genome map provided an excellent opportunity to study how thousands of years of domestication may have changed the species. Researchers have discovered important mutations in the gene that regulates glucose metabolism. In humans, mutations in this gene were linked to obesity, but for chickens, this mutation bears a positive trait.

Chicken meat has high energy value, a good amount of protein and medium fat content. Also, zero carbs, sugar and fibre and zero glycemic index that is good for your blood sugar levels. Chicken contains a small amount of potassium, a good amount of vitamin B6 and a great amount of vitamin B3.

Chicken is one of the most popular meats in people’s diets. However, despite the fact that chicken is a staple food, you may not know how healthy it is.

Chicken has a high protein content and is a top choice for people who want to build muscle mass. But it is not just bodybuilders who need protein. This nutrient is an important component for every cell in your body. Your body needs protein to make enzymes, hormones, and other chemicals. It also supports bones, muscles, tissues, blood and cartilage. Keep in mind that the body cannot store protein as it can do with other nutrients, so you must continuously nourish your body with it.

Chicken is rich in vitamin B6 and this plays an important role in heart attack prevention. Vitamin B6 helps reduce levels of homocysteine which is an amino acid, one of the key components linked to an increased risk of a heart attack.

You probably couldn’t imagine that eating chicken can strengthen your bones.

According to a study dietary protein even increases the bone mineral mass and reduces the incidence of osteoporotic fracture. Dietary protein is crucial for the maintenance of bone tissue as well as for bone growth. Human bones are made up of 35% protein and require a supply of amino acids to be used for protein turnover.

When making a healthy eating plan, chicken is almost always the main dish. This is because chicken is lean and has much less fat and calories than other meats but contains much-needed protein. Eating it regularly can help you lose weight, given that the protein provides satiety and you do not overeat. You can use chicken for all kinds of soups, salads and casseroles, so you won’t feel like you are missing much. Plus, you will feel satisfied after your meal.

There is a good reason why you eat chicken soup when you are sick. Chicken helps strengthen the body’s immune cells to fight infection and help you cope with illness. Protein from chicken also contains amino acids that make antibodies to fight infection. When you combine chicken with fresh broth and vegetables, it is the perfect recipe for comfort and healing. Not to mention that vitamin B5, magnesium and tryptophan (an essential amino acid found in many protein-based foods and dietary proteins) relieve stress and improve mood.

One of the greatest things about chicken is that it is a relatively inexpensive source of protein for many households. It is often more budget-friendly than other sources of protein, such as beef, pork, fish and lamb. This makes it a great option for ensuring an adequate supply of essential nutrients while still being cost-effective.

Also, chicken is incredibly versatile in cooking. There are a variety of dishes you can make with it, such as fried chicken, barbecue, salads, and soups.

Although chicken is good for our health, it has some side effects.

A small study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that white chicken meat may raise levels of ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol.

You might eat chicken contaminated with bacteria. 97% of chicken breasts tested by Consumer Reports contained bacteria, and it is even possible that these are making you sick. A 2014 study analysed more than 300 raw chicken breasts bought in grocery shops across the USA. Most chicken breasts from the test were found to be infected with bacteria.

More than half of the samples contained faecal contamination. And about half of them contained at least one bacterium resistant to three or more commonly prescribed antibiotics. It is definitely something to look out for the next time you go to the grocery shop to buy poultry meat.

It is commonly believed that chickens on farms are given lots of hormones and steroids to promote rapid growth. This is not entirely true. Instead of using hormones and steroids, the poultry industry has created larger birds through the use of antibiotics and years of selective breeding. Selective breeding is the process of breeding two animals with desired qualities so that their offsprings also have those qualities.

Antibiotics are used in poultry farming when the birds are sick – when it is the only way to control salmonellosis, E. coli, or other infections. If the producer is unscrupulous and applies uncontrolled amounts of antibiotics to the birds, the chickens may develop resistance to the antibiotics given. And then not only the antibiotics but also these resistant bacteria will pose a danger to human health.

Fun & curious facts about chicken meat

Chicken meat in the Blue Zones

Many of the long-livers of the Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica raise free-range chickens. When it is time for a special meal, they make polo guisado, or chicken stew. Almost every family has their own recipe for this dish, but it always consists of a whole chicken cooked in broth and lots of vegetables.

Not enough? Here is more

In this video on Bestie’s YouTube channel, with almost 5 million subscribers, you’ll hear from the guys about why you should eat chicken.

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