There are so many foods that we eat a lot without knowing what’s in them. It’s possible one of these is chicken, a staple food in diets all around the world. Not only is it a healthy addition to the diet, it offers further health benefits you may not even be aware of! If you want to learn more, keep reading this article!
What is Chicken?
Chicken is one of the most conventional types of poultry consumed all over the world. It has been raised and eaten for thousands of years, often attributed to being first raised in India.
While chickens were primarily used in cockfighting, it was later considered for consumption, spreading to Europe, Africa, Asia and, with colonization, America. By the 19th century, chickens were domesticated for household use and their eggs were used to barter. During the later part of the 19th century going intot he early 20th centuries, domestic chicken farming gave way to industrial farming to meet increased demand in growing cities.
Large-scale chicken farming introduced further breeds of the animal, and many new breeds have been created since then. Regardless of which breed you eat, chicken is extremely healthy and contains many nutrients.
Nutritional Value of Chicken
Even though chicken is a very lean meat with loads of protein, it is also high in cholesterol. Chicken is capable of providing selenium, an antioxidant which helps control the effect of free radicals and improves immunity. One cup of chopped chicken contains:
| Nutrient | Amount |
| Protein | 43 grams |
| Calories | 242 |
| Total Fat | 6 grams |
| Saturated Fat | 2 grams |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1 gram |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 2 grams |
| Fiber | 0 gram |
| Sugar | 0 gram |
| Carbohydrates | 0 gram |
| Vitamins and Minerals | |
| Selenium | 34.3 micrograms |
| Zinc | 1.7 milligrams |
| Potassium | 346 milligrams |
| Phosphorus | 302 milligrams |
| Pantothenic Acid | 1.4 milligrams |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.8 milligrams |
| Niacin | 17.4 milligrams |
| Riboflavin | 0.2 milligrams |
Aside from this, chicken is composed of 65g of liquid elements, 215 calories and 75g of cholesterol. One hundred grams of chicken may contain:
- 70 milligrams of sodium
- 20 milligrams of magnesium
- 9 milligrams of iron
- Vitamin E
- 11 milligrams of calcium
- Vitamin K
- Vitamin B12
- Folate
- Vitamin C
- Thiamin
Health Benefits of Chicken
The health benefits of chicken are well known, but here we can outline them for you. They include:
- Helps treat common colds: chicken soup can relieve symptoms of the common cold, such as a sore throat and congestion.
- Helps reduce cholesterol: the cholesterol and saturated fat in chicken is lower than that of lamb, pork or beef. This is why many specialists recommend it to lower cholesterol. High cholesterol may eventually lead to heart disease.
- Helps reduce the risk of cancer: the risk of developing various types of cancer can be reduced when you eat fish or chicken meat instead of beef and pork. This is one of the best health benefits of chicken.
- Helps control blood pressure: consuming chicken may help control blood pressure, particularly in those who have hypertension. The vitamins, minerals and other compounds in chicken are the main reason for this particular benefit.
- Helps with weight loss: various diet plans that have high levels of protein are effective in reducing weight. One good addition to the diet is chicken, due to its high protein and other nutrients.
- Good source of vitamins and minerals: not only is chicken rich in protein, it is also oozing with nutrients. For instance, its B vitamins help prevent cataracts and various skin disorders.
- High levels of protein: the protein content of chicken provides the body with the energy it needs to function.
