Is Chicken Healthy or Harmful? How Much Should You Eat?

Chicken-consuming people are all over the world. It goes well with spices and sauces from many world cuisines. Grilling, boiling, baking, frying, or stir-frying are all ways chicken can be cooked. Butter chicken and chicken tikka are some of the most common dishes. Chicken is white meat and is considered healthier than red meat such as beef, pork, or mutton.

Nutritional Value of Chicken

A serving of skinless chicken of about 100g provides around 150 – 200 calories. It has no carbohydrates. Chicken has underlying protein, and fat if cooked with skin. It has some phosphorus, selenium. Chicken has folate, and potassium.

Protein Content and Health Benefits

Chicken provides complete protein with all essential amino acids. Athletes can build muscle with chicken and diabetic patients can slow the absorption of sugar in meals. For people with a kidney problem, quality protein is preferred, and chicken provides quality protein moderately.

Skinless chicken breast and country chicken are also lower in sodium, phosphorus, and potassium. Lastly, chicken is an excellent protein source to eat in moderation.

Fat Content: Good and Bad

Like many meats, chicken is the source of both saturated and unsaturated fats and cholesterol. Broiler chickens have more fat than a country chicken raised naturally. Moderate saturated fats increase bad cholesterol (LDL) and risk of heart disease. Nonetheless, chicken contains significantly less fat than red meats.

Choose healthy cooking techniques, like roasting and grilling. And avoid frying your chicken or any heavy sauces.

Verdict : eat chicken in small amounts and cook less fat.

Ideal serving size and cooking tips

Eat 3–6 ounces (85–170g) of chicken per day.
Avoid fatty recipes like butter chicken and fried chicken.
Choose roasted or steamed chicken and combine it with vegetables and whole grains.
Do not eat the skin if you are concerned about cholesterol or weight.

Verdict: chicken can be healthful if consumed and cooked properly.

In conclusion, eat smart eat balanced

When eaten in restricted portions and cooked appropriately, chicken can be very much a part of your health regimen. Choose cutlets of chicken without fatty skin, like chicken breasts, preferably with country chicken.

A diet comprising chicken with whole grains and vegetables, mostly seasonal, would be ideal. Try keeping unnecessary fats to a minimum while maximizing the nutrition offered in each meal. Along with this, we would also suggest that you remain physically active to keep some balance in your diet and lifestyle.