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5 Surprising Chicken Q&As
5 Surprising Chicken Q&As
Sometimes I think half the people I know are cutting back on red meat (for health reasons, budget reasons, or both). You, too? Then chances are you're eating more chicken than ever. And "more" means more than 91 pounds a year! That's average for most Americans, and it's three times what we ate a few decades ago. So here's the first surprising question:
1. Is chicken that much better for you than meat? You bet. Compare a broiled skinless chicken breast to a broiled sirloin steak, with the fat trimmed to nearly nothing (a mere 1/8 inch): Ounce for ounce, the steak has a little less protein, about a third more calories, and four times as much fat, half of it saturated. Go chicken! Not only is it waist- and heart-friendly, but eating a low-fat diet -- and eating healthful unsaturated fats when you do eat fat -- can make your RealAge as much as 6 years younger.
Next question?
2. Are free-range chickens more nutritious than regular birds? Nope. Both get a feed mix that's designed to prep them for market, and there's no evidence that free-range chickens are more nutritious. Ideally, free-range birds are more humanely raised, but the USDA only requires that certified free-range chickens have "access" to the outdoors. "That may mean the birds got to stroll on a cement slab for 5 minutes a day," says Elizabeth Somer, RD, author of Nutrition for Women.
3. Is "pasturized" poultry tastier than free-range? Maybe. Pasturized birds -- think green pastures, not milk processing (that's Pasteur) -- spend most of their lives roaming around a field. Some cooks believe that makes their meat more flavorful. It certainly makes the chickens' lives nicer.
4. Are organic birds hormone-free? Well, yes, but all chickens are hormone-free. It's illegal to give hormones to poultry. Organic mainly means the chickens are raised on 100% organic feed and aren't fed antibiotics.
5. At McDonald's, are you better off ordering Chicken Selects Premium Breast Strips or a cheeseburger? A cheeseburger. A five-strip order of Chicken Selects -- thanks to how they’re prepared -- equals more than two McD's cheeseburgers. The tab: 660 calories, 40 grams of fat, and a stunning 1,680 milligrams of sodium. Ouch.
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: Comments (5)
Comments
Please read the book entitled, The China Study. You will want to severely limit or avoid any meat products completely. Plenty of organic fruits, veggies and nuts are wonderful. Eat foods which are as close to their naturally grown state as possible. And rid your life of anyone or anything that add unneeded stress to you. Exercise is wonderful for emotional and physical health. We are what we eat! Posted by: Char | September 14, 2009 at 03:06 AM
Great post, I really love chicken and have never ate too much red meat. I feel that chicken has a greater versatility so I have more eating options when it comes to chicken based meals over say steak. I’ve also found that the portion size with a red meat based meal is much greater also. With regards to number 5, it’d be better to avoid fast foods completely! Posted by: Dave L | September 13, 2009 at 12:32 AM
I really haven't seen any evidence that "free range" or "organic" meats are any better than the regular products.
I see that the chicken labeled "organic" still has the "8% solution" included like the plain old chicken - but at nearly three times the price!
How about some common sense, good eating habits and exercise?
Jen Posted by: Jennifer Linsdale | September 08, 2009 at 11:14 AM
Avoid the obvious such as fried foods, burgers and other fatty meats (i.e. pork, bacon, ham, salami, ribs and sausage). Dairy products such as cheese, cottage cheese, milk and cream should be eaten in low fat versions. Nuts and sandwich meats, mayonnaise, margarine, butter and sauces should be eaten in limited amounts. Most are available in lower fat versions such as substitute butter, fat free cheeses and mayonnaise. Thought for the day: Lean, mean, fat-burning machine…. Then be one! Click Here! Posted by: idsam | September 04, 2009 at 08:09 PM
Avoid the obvious such as fried foods, burgers and other fatty meats (i.e. pork, bacon, ham, salami, ribs and sausage). Dairy products such as cheese, cottage cheese, milk and cream should be eaten in low fat versions. Nuts and sandwich meats, mayonnaise, margarine, butter and sauces should be eaten in limited amounts. Most are available in lower fat versions such as substitute butter, fat free cheeses and mayonnaise. Thought for the day: Lean, mean, fat-burning machine…. Then be one! Click Here! Posted by: idsam | September 04, 2009 at 08:08 PM
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