What Are The Differences Between Turkey And Chicken Meat?

Both turkey and chicken are healthy foods to include in your diet. Specialists even recommend consuming both to improve your general health, regardless of your age.

We consider both of these meats to be white meat. These have a better reputation than red meat, which is associated with a higher risk of developing chronic diseases if we eat excessive amounts of it. In addition, we should try to avoid meat that has been processed by industry, as it can contain dangerous additives that affect our metabolism.

Chicken

This food stands out for its high protein content. Studies have shown that these nutrients are indispensable and essential for good muscle health. These substances are characterized by their high biological value, because they contain all essential amino acids and are quite easy to digest.

In addition, chicken meat has a low fat content. Although the fat content consists of saturated fats, these do not pose a threat to health. From a scientific point of view, consumption of saturated fatty acids has varied greatly in recent years, as shown by a study published in Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition .

On the other hand, we must not forget that this food also stands out for its content of B vitamins. These micronutrients are essential to the body and play a key role in many metabolic reactions related to obtaining energy. For example, vitamin B12 is a substance that is fundamental in the prevention of anemia.

turkey meat

Turkey meat also contains proteins of high biological value in its composition. The difference between the two foods with regard to this nutrient is hardly apparent. All you can say is that you can vary the amount of this type of protein depending on the portion of the animal you consume.

However, there are significant differences in the fat content. Turkey meat does not contain saturated fats. In fact, the total amount of fat is lower than that of chicken. The cholesterol level is also significantly lower.

Nevertheless, this has no serious health consequences. The saturated fats are not considered harmful as long as they are cis and not trans.

Finally, it’s worth mentioning that turkey meat has a higher calcium content than chicken: almost three times that. This data is of interest when formulating a diet with the aim of preventing skeletal disorders. There is evidence that consuming calcium regularly reduces the risk of developing osteoporosis later in life.

The preparation of the meat is important

When preparing chicken or turkey meat, you have to take a number of things into account. The first is that preference is given to grilling, baking in the oven or boiling in water. That way the fatty acids are not exposed to change, which ensures that it remains somewhat healthy.

You should avoid frying these foods, nor should you cook them in batter. In these situations, components that are harmful and even toxic to human health can be formed, such as trans fats and acrylamide. Both substances are capable of causing systemic inflammation and affecting organs, tissues and cells.

On the other hand, the best way to eat meat is to combine it with vegetables. That way you ensure a good source of micronutrients and antioxidants.

If you also want to include carbohydrates in the meal, tubers, legumes and whole grain rice are the best options. It’s important to avoid pasta and bread as much as possible, as their high glycemic index can be detrimental to sugar metabolism in general.

Turkey and Chicken Meat: Two Healthy Foods

Turkey meat and chicken meat can both be included in a healthy diet. They should be eaten regularly as they are one of the best sources of protein with a high biological value. Furthermore, it is also a good option to consume white meat instead of red.

In general, the preparation methods affect the end result of these products and there are hardly any significant differences between these products. The optimal preparation method is the grill or the oven, but it is also possible to cook them. In this way, the fatty acids remain healthy.

Remember that the basis of a healthy diet is variety, so it is also a good idea to alternate these products with other foods with a high protein content, such as eggs, fish and dairy products.