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Chicken is the most consumed side dish. In every event, chicken is always included in the catering menu provided. Apart from being cheaper than other types of meat, chicken is also large enough to be consumed in one meal. Because of that, many people choose chicken as their daily menu, even though the way to process it varies every day. However, is it actually healthy to eat chicken every day?
Benefits of eating chicken
Chicken is a good source of fat for the body. Although it contains saturated fat, the amount is less than red meat such as beef or mutton. By eating chicken as a substitute for other meat, then you lower your body's risk of developing heart disease by reducing the level of bad cholesterol.
In addition, chicken is a food source that is rich in amino acids. Amino acids or protein are the building blocks of the body to build muscle. The protein in chicken also functions for various other chemical processes such as breaking down toxins.
Eating chicken can also reduce your risk of developing cancer. The reason is, chicken is a good source of selenium. Selenium is an antioxidant that also affects the performance of vitamins C and E in fighting free radicals which are one of the causes of cancer.
Not only that, chicken also contains B6 which helps metabolize protein and carbohydrates. Without vitamin B6, the immune system, metabolism, and central nervous system will not function properly. In fact, eating chicken also helps maintain healthy body cells and lowers cholesterol. This is because chicken contains vitamin B3 or niacin which is quite high.
Is it healthy to eat chicken every day?
Given that eating chicken itself offers various health benefits, is it healthy to eat chicken every day? The answer depends. It depends on the type of chicken, how it is cooked, and what parts you eat.
Chicken will be a good source of nutrition as long as you pay attention to these three factors. The first thing you need to pay attention to is the type of chicken. Domestic chickens tend to undergo a process of injecting hormones and antibiotics to keep them healthy and grow up artificially. Unfortunately, if you eat too much chicken that is injected with hormones, this can disrupt the health of the reproductive system. The reason is, the injected hormones in the form of steroids, estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone are often not according to the rules. Eating too much of it can mess up the body's natural hormones and increase the risk of various diseases.
Meanwhile, native chickens tend to be released freely without being injected. However, unlike domestic chickens that are clearly fed, free-range chickens can eat anything they find on the streets. So that this too can be a threat to your health. It is best to eat organic chicken and probiotic chicken because the type of food and the place where it lives is well maintained so that it makes these two chickens healthier.
Apart from the type of chicken, another thing that needs to be considered is how to cook it. Chicken that is cooked by frying and consumed every day is certainly not good for the body. This increases the levels of bad fats and cholesterol in the body which increases the risk of heart disease. It will be safer if you eat it by steaming, boiling, or grilling.
Finally, the part of the chicken that is consumed also determines whether or not it is healthy to eat chicken every day. Chicken breast is a healthy part as long as you don't eat the skin and fatty parts. Set aside the skin if chicken is your daily mandatory menu because this part contains very high fat.
However, it is best to vary the side dishes with other types of food. Don't eat the same thing every day. The reason is, by eating the same food every day the body will get the same nutrients. Meanwhile, the body needs other nutrients beyond those contained in chicken to be able to carry out bodily functions properly, for example from fish that are high in omega-3 and vitamin B12.
Remember that anything extravagant, even healthy, is not good. So just eat chicken in moderation, no need every day.
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