How Healthy Is Chicken Breast?
All cuts of chicken are great for you, but on a number of metrics, the humble breast takes top prize. Along with containing nutrients that are involved in repairing the body's tissues, building immunity and boosting energy, chicken breast is lower in saturated fat than thighs, legs and wings, making it a smart choice for people concerned about their heart health.
Here are a few ways that chicken breast benefits your body, along with some recipes from New York Times Cooking.
It's one of the best food sources of protein.
On a per-calorie basis, there aren't many whole foods richer in protein than chicken breast. 'You'd have to eat protein powder to get more protein,' said Dave Bridges, a biochemist and associate professor of nutritional sciences at the University of Michigan.
There are no carbohydrates and little fat in chicken breast, especially if you remove the skin, said Heidi Silver, the director of the Diet, Body Composition and Metabolism Core at Vanderbilt University. One 3.5-ounce serving of boneless, skinless chicken breast contains about 160 calories and 32 grams of protein. That's almost half the recommended daily amount for the average 185-pound adult. (Some research suggests that people who do regular strength or endurance training may benefit from consuming more protein per day.) In comparison, a similar serving of farmed Atlantic salmon contains about 206 calories and 22 grams of protein.
In addition to building muscle, protein is essential for repairing cells, making antibodies that fight disease and producing the enzymes that keep systems running. 'The entire body is built from protein,' Dr. Silver said.
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