Beef or chicken? Healthiest meat for your wellbeing
What meat is the healthiest (photo: Freepik)
When it comes to choosing between beef and chicken, many people wonder which meat is healthier. Both products have their benefits, and it is important to know how they differ and what effect they have on the body, reports the Health website.
What is healthier
The choice between chicken or beef ultimately depends on your health goals. Both are great sources of protein that offer different nutrients to support overall health.
Red meats, such as beef, tend to be higher in saturated fat, which can increase cholesterol levels and the risk of heart disease. Lean protein sources can help reduce saturated fat intake.
Choose skinless chicken or lean beef such as loin or tenderloin.
In addition to protein, iron is another important nutrient found in animal foods. It helps form hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body. Iron also supports growth, brain function, and hormone production.
There are two types of iron: heme (from animal foods) and non-heme (from plants and fortified foods). The body absorbs heme iron more easily.
Nutritional comparison
Both beef and chicken contain important minerals and B vitamins that help the body convert food into energy and support red blood cell formation.
Both contain high levels of selenium, with beef providing 60% of the daily value and chicken 50%. Selenium helps produce antioxidant enzymes that protect cells from damage.
Beef contains more iron (18% of the daily value) and zinc (41%) than chicken. Zinc supports immune function and helps the body produce DNA and proteins.
Beef also contains more riboflavin (19%) and vitamin B6 (16%) than chicken. Riboflavin is essential for cell growth, development, and function, while vitamin B6 plays a role in more than 100 enzymatic reactions related to metabolism. It also supports the development of the baby's brain during pregnancy and helps regulate immune function.
Which meat has more protein
Beef contains about 5 grams more protein than chicken. This can be a deciding factor if you are focusing on a higher protein intake. It is also important for maintaining muscles, especially for active people, and can help keep you full after a meal.
Both beef and chicken contain saturated fats, which are naturally found in animal foods.
There are several potential risks when eating chicken or beef. To prevent salmonellosis, it is important to cook all meat to a safe internal temperature.
This material is for informational purposes only and should not be used for medical diagnosis or self-treatment. Our goal is to provide readers with accurate information about symptoms, causes, and methods of detecting diseases. RBС-Ukraine is not responsible for any diagnoses that readers may make based on materials from the resource. We do not recommend self-treatment and advise consulting a doctor in case of any health concerns.
