Whether we look at eastern or western cuisine, chicken-based meals are a crucial part of both. Fried or cooked, grilled or baked, chicken is a major part of our diets and has been for a long number of centuries. But why is chicken so popular?
Well, there are numerous reasons for this. For one, chicken is easy to come by. For many centuries farmers simply held chickens on their farms and they were super easy to take care of, unlike many other, bigger animals. Nowadays, vast chicken farms grow millions upon millions of chickens in record times and the meat they give is as nutritious as it comes. The price of chicken compared to other meats can be several times lower while the nutrients contained within will come out to about the same. What is more, chicken is tasty. While many other types of meat require some getting used to, and I have never met a person who liked all meats, like a lamb, pork, or wild animals, I have scarcely heard of anyone who dislikes chicken. Ways of preparing chicken are countless and they mix well with pretty much anything from eggs to potatoes. Chicken is used in soups, complex dishes, and sandwiches alike.
How Nutritious Is Chicken Breast
Chicken breast is one of the most widely used parts of chicken meat. While chicken breast is the part of the meat with the least bones and possibly the most delicious one, they are also the most nutritious part of the chicken meat.
Chicken breast 165 calories per 100 grams, which is certainly not a high amount. At the same time, eating chicken breast will allow you to take in big amounts of protein, potassium, and sodium while not being fat or carbohydrate-rich. This means eating chicken breast will allow you to maintain and grow your muscle while not getting fat or exposing your body to other fat-related risks. This is why most bodybuilders and fitness freaks include chicken breast in their diet on an almost daily basis and many have testified that they would use chicken breast in almost every meal if it didn’t grow tiresome constantly eating the same food.
How Many Grams Of Protein In Chicken Breast?
The question of how much protein is in chicken breast is commonly heard as most of us know that there is “a lot”. But how much exactly? One hundred grams of chicken breast will contain an astounding 31 grams of protein. To give you a fast comparison, the same amount of eggs will contain 13 grams, and even 100 grams of steak will only have 28 grams. The one food that comes closest to the chicken breast in protein percentages is tuna, containing roughly the same amount per 100 grams.
It is well known that protein is the main building block of muscles. In order to maintain your muscle at its current state, it is recommended to eat about 1 gram of protein per 1 kg of weight. Bodybuilders and athletes strive for much more than that and chicken breast are one of their favorite ways of getting protein in their system fast. Chicken breast is probably only secondary to supplementation shakes such as whey protein.
What About Other Nutrients?
Now that we know how much protein is in chicken breast, let us find out about its other nutrients. Aside from its very high protein concentration, is the fact that it contains zero carbohydrates and very low fat (only 5% of the daily recommended intake). This is probably why people will colloquially say that chicken is “light”. When you eat it, you will feel like you can have plenty as there is no fat and carbs in there putting pressure on your digestive system.
When it comes to other nutrients the most significant concentrations in the chicken breast are those of potassium, sodium, Vitamin B-6, and Magnesium. Chicken breast is an especially great source of Vitamin B-6 that has been linked to the prevention of Autism, Parkinson’s Disease, and ADD. The same vitamin has been known to help with morning nausea of pregnant women and hangover nausea.
How Many Calories In A Chicken Breast Fillet
As mentioned before, chicken breast only contains 165 calories per 100 grams. This means it would take over a kilogram of chicken breast to fulfill your daily calorie needs if you are an average adult. The “lack” of calories comes from the fact chicken breast contains absolutely no carbs, and very few fats, which are the main calorie sources.
In short, the chicken breast will not make you fat, and if anything it will make you strong. One thing to look out for with chicken breast is cholesterol. Like other parts of the chicken, the breast contains a lot of cholesterol. A 100-gram portion will contain 28% of the daily cholesterol needs, so eating more than 300 grams a day may not be a great idea long term.
Chicken Breast In Diet
As anyone will tell you, chicken breast is a major part of the diet of most western men and women. If you are looking to create a healthy diet, excluding many other types of meat may be smart, but including chicken on a practically daily basis is very smart. The protein will add to your diet and the lack of “bad” nutrients makes it a real powerhouse.
Chicken breasts can be served in a variety of ways. It is often eaten grilled with different sauces, but can also be used as the main ingredient for sandwiches and tortillas or an ingredient with omelets or scrambled eggs. Remember to eat your chicken breast with some carbs like potatoes or bread. The lack of carbs in the breast itself is a good thing, but you do also net carbs and calories in order to operate your body, so don’t put all your focus on protein and completely forget about carbs and fats. After all, your body needs all the nutrients to function at 100%.