Chicken is a great substitute for red meat. It’s high in protein and is linked to a ton of health benefits.
The thing with chicken, however, is that you have to eat it right.
Chicken parts like the thigh or drumstick are high in caloric content. Chicken skin or deep-fried chicken is high in saturated fat.
The best way to get all the health benefits of chicken is to stick with chicken breast, which happens to be the healthiest part.
This does not mean that other parts of the chicken won’t provide you with health benefits, but why go for less when you can have better, right?
Eating any part of the chicken without moderation or eating too much chicken on a daily basis can cause some side effects, and we will get to that shortly.
But before we do, let’s discuss some health benefits of eating chicken.
Health Benefits of Eating Chicken
- The lean protein in chicken helps us to build stronger bones and muscles.
- It helps with weight management and heart health when eaten in moderation and cooked healthily.
- Chicken makes us feel good due to the presence of tryptophan, which is linked to the hormone serotonin.
- Chicken is rich in other nutrients such as Iron, choline, zinc and Copper.
Eating Too Much Chicken Side Effects
- If you’re a lover of deep-fried chicken and happen to eat it every day, it can spike your cholesterol and lead to many problems.
- Chicken can increase your body temperature as it is considered a high-heat food, and this may not bode well for you. It could lead to a runny nose or even a bloody nose.
- Butter chicken and fried chicken will only make you gain weight. It is fine to have these once in a while, but not all the time.
Apart from the issues that occur from eating too much chicken, some studies link well-cooked chicken or chicken cooked in high heat to carcinogens and issues with chickens infected with E. Coli bacteria.
These problems have nothing to do with eating too much chicken and can be avoided by cooking chicken in low to moderate heat and ensuring that the chicken you purchase is raised in hygienic conditions.
In Summary, the way your chicken is prepared determines the health benefits you gain from it.
Your ability to control your intake also ensures that you do not get any of the associated side effects.
Chicken is healthy when cooked nutritiously and when taken in moderation.
Disclaimer:
A medical practitioner did not write this article.
If you’d like more information on the side effects of eating too much chicken, please consult your doctor.
