Chicken or turkey: experts say which is more beneficial


Protein content

On average, chicken contains 21 grams of protein, and turkey has 24 grams. We need proteins to build muscles, and muscles not only look more beautiful than body fat, but also help us lose weight: the more developed they are, the more fat is burned during physical activity. Therefore, it is not surprising that both turkey and chicken are loved by sports fans.

Who wins? Turkey by a small margin. But chicken is also good for those who are watching their weight and actively involved in sports.

Cholesterol content

Chicken – 64 mg per 100 g, turkey – 62 mg per 100 g. Everyone knows that cholesterol is “terribly, terribly harmful,” but, as is usually the case, it all depends on the quantity and quality of food consumed. In general, cholesterol is necessary in order to transport fats to the right place in the body, so there is no need to completely exclude foods with a relatively high content from the diet. However, moderation is also necessary here.

Who wins? Turkey by a small margin.

Benefits of turkey

Until recently, turkey was traditionally associated with scenes from American films, where it is customary to serve this huge roasted bird at Christmas and Thanksgiving. But today, turkey is always on supermarket shelves and has firmly entered the diet as an alternative to the usual chicken . The bird has a lot of advantages:

  • It does not cause allergies , which is why it is recommended to use turkey meat puree as the first complementary food for babies starting from six months.
  • Turkey is the best source of calcium compared to other meat products (contains 12 milligrams of calcium per hundred grams of edible portion).
  • The product has proven itself as an excellent source of riboflavin , vitamin B6 , iron , niacin , phosphorus , and zinc .
  • The amino acid tryptophan contained in meat helps maintain the required level of serotonin in the body, which promotes vigor and good mood. 100 grams of turkey contains 0.28 grams of tryptophan.
  • Turkey contains less cholesterol - 62 milligrams, as opposed to 64 milligrams of cholesterol in chicken.
  • In terms of macronutrient content, turkey meat has clear advantages. Meat contains enough magnesium. This macronutrient strengthens the immune system and supports the nervous system. There is also a lot of potassium, which is important for heart function.
  • Poultry is raised without the use of antibiotics and hormones , which has a positive effect on the quality of meat.
  • Turkey meat is low in sodium , making it suitable for people with hypertension or on a low-sodium diet.
  • Turkey meat contains more niacin than chicken. Nicotinic acid deficiency can cause hair loss and deterioration of the skin.
  • Turkey meat contains a lot of vitamin B2 (190 micrograms per 100 grams of product).
  • The ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids in turkey meat is 10:1 . This is the optimal ratio for a balanced diet

Let's sum it up

Having checked the dry numbers, we come to the conclusion that turkey is healthier in a number of ways than chicken . But these benefits are not so significant as to give up one product and lean on another. The most important thing in nutrition - and all nutritionists talk about this - is balance, completeness. Therefore, you should not deny yourself the consumption of both chicken and turkey. But it is important to choose quality meat! Unfortunately, chicken is somewhat discredited because research confirms its poor quality. The meat is pumped with special compounds to increase its weight, and antibiotics are found in it. Therefore, we advise you to purchase products from manufacturers you trust.

Want to buy quality turkey? Read the results of the Roskontrol examination.

New in blogs

You can increasingly find turkey meat on supermarket shelves. It is presented in the form of whole carcasses, packaged parts of meat, breasts, wings, thighs and, of course, minced. Buyers have begun to increasingly prefer turkey meat over chicken, although the price is much higher. This is explained by the fact that turkey meat has a large number of beneficial properties and is very beneficial for the human body.

Protein can be found in all types of food, including fish, eggs, milk and vegetables, but turkey meat is a particularly good source.

What is healthy about turkey meat, how healthy and harmful it is, now we will look into this in more detail.

Nutrients in turkey

Turkeys are a common species of poultry from the chicken and pheasant family, which is descended from the wild turkey. The bird has a varied diet, eating grass, clover, alfalfa, berries, plant and tree seeds, acorns, beetles and grasshoppers. Therefore, meat has great nutritional value and, accordingly, is very useful for humans. By including it in our diet, we saturate the body with vital substances.

The benefits of turkey meat are undeniable; it contains complete protein and a complete set of amino acids necessary for the human body. He has:

phosphorus, copper, iron, potassium, calcium, zinc and magnesium,

as well as B vitamins (B, B2, B3, B4, B6, B7, B9, B12), H, Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids.

11 Health Benefits of Turkey Meat

What is healthier, chicken or turkey?

Nutritionists unequivocally state that chicken and turkey meat are dietary meats and each of them is very healthy. Chicken can be eaten daily and does not pose any threat to human health and figure; it is an excellent source of protein and other useful elements. Chicken broths are considered medicinal; they restore strength lost during illness and strengthen the immune system. Chicken meat has more calories than turkey meat, but this does not make it less popular among chicken lovers.

People who eat turkey meat rarely have a bad mood, because the tryptophan contained in the meat produces happiness hormones - endorphins. And balanced fatty acids make turkey meat an ideal product for losing weight and athletic people leading a healthy lifestyle. Anti-allergenic poultry meat is good for children; it can be consumed by hypertensive patients and diabetics, since it has little fat and bad cholesterol, and even more protein, amino acids, calcium and phosphorus than chicken.

The table below provides macronutrient comparisons between different types of roasted chicken and turkey. The main difference is that chicken breast contains slightly more calories than turkey breast, and dark meat chicken provides more calories than dark meat turkey. The amount of macronutrients is similar between chicken and turkey. However, the calorie (and fat) content is higher in dark and white meat.

Micronutrient Comparison Chart

The vitamin and mineral content of chicken and turkey meat is very similar. These foods are good sources of iron, zinc, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, niacin, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12. There are no significant differences in micronutrients between chicken breast and turkey breast, or between dark meat chicken and dark meat turkey. However, dark meat is the best source of zinc, and white meat is richer in niacin.

So which is better?

Because chicken and turkey are so similar, the best choice for you really comes down to taste preference and price. Both meats are excellent choices as sources of nutritious, high-quality protein.

How to choose and store turkey meat correctly

When choosing meat products, it is best to pay attention to farm or homemade meat. It is still natural and no pesticides, herbicides, antibiotics or other substances that could be harmful to health were used when raising poultry.

The meat should have a healthy and beautiful appearance and when pressed with a finger, the dent should immediately return to its original position. Meat is heat sensitive, so after purchasing it, it should be cooked immediately or stored in the refrigerator or freezer. Once cooked, turkey can be stored in the refrigerator for no more than four days.

When choosing meat, focus on its elasticity.

Be careful when frying - it dries out quickly.

Keep turkey separate from any sauces or raw foods.

A refrigerated turkey will keep for about one or two days, cooked for about four days.

Contraindications to eating turkey meat

There are very few harms and contraindications for eating turkey meat. It, like all other products, should not be abused, especially

people with kidney failure and gout patients.

For people susceptible to hypertension, doctors recommend not to salt meat, since it already contains sodium.

Research shows that large amounts of tryptophan can make you drowsy.

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Interesting Facts

A turkey may not look that big, but it contains about 150 bones, which is slightly less than the number of bones in humans (206).

It's funny but true - just like people, turkeys can die from a heart attack. This was discovered when many turkeys died from the shock and noise of jets flying overhead.

An interesting fact is that turkeys cannot raise their heads during rainstorms; a turkey can even drown when it rains.

Turkeys and peacocks have similarities, and turkeys also extend their colorful feathers and dance to attract the opposite sex.

https://chem-polezno.com/zhivotnogo-proiskhozhdeniya/indejka

Turkey will help you recharge with energy - it is a source of the “happiness hormone,” advises Russia’s chief narcologist Evgeniy Brun. Turkey meat contains amino acids such as tryptophan, a precursor to serotonin. In addition, the meat of this bird is low in cholesterol. You need to take the medicine daily - 100 grams.

The average turkey leg weighs about 250-300 grams. If you follow the recommendations of the chief narcologist of Russia, it is enough to eat only 100 grams of this meat per day, and the number of depressions will be significantly less.

PS

That’s probably why I’m always balanced and I’m always in a good, cheerful mood. ☺)

For many years now, I have been consuming practically only turkey as a meat source. I recommend to all!

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