Alongside beef and pork, chicken is one of the ‘big three’ popularity-wise.
However, chicken is a different classification of meat and comes under the poultry category.
People commonly refer to as ‘white meat’ rather than red.
As one of the most popular foods in the world, there are all sorts of chicken-based foods. These range from fried and roasted chicken to chicken soup and even chicken popcorn.
For health purposes, it is better to avoid the more processed of these options.
Nutrition Facts
Ground chicken meat provides the following nutrients per 100g;
Benefits
- Chicken is very cheap and easily affordable.
- For those who are trying to consume less fat/calories, chicken offers a smaller amount than other meats but with the same protein content.
- Chicken stock/broth offers a significant source of gelatin. As chicken bones have a lower density than other meats, the collagen and gelatin are far easier to extract.
- Chicken provides a decent source of necessary vitamins and minerals, particularly selenium, potassium, phosphorus and B vitamins.
Concerns
- Due to commercial chicken feed—and similar to pork—chicken contains an excessive amount of omega-6. Whether this is problematic or not likely depends on the overall diet.
- Bacterial contamination with strains such as E. coli and salmonella is too common in chicken. As a result, strict hygiene procedures are necessary when handling raw meat.
