- The first shocking fact about chicken is that it was probably first domesticated for cockfights, not as food.
- Chickens were domesticated in Southern China in 6000 B.C.
- There’s a mushroom, Laetiporus sulphureus that tastes like chicken. Due to its taste has been called the chicken polypore and chicken-of-the-woods.
- Chickens can recognize over 100 faces, places, and different members of their flock, even after months apart.
- It was the first bird to have its genome sequenced, in 2004.
- Recent studies have shown that chickens are intelligent creatures with many traits similar to those of primates. Chickens demonstrate complex problem-solving skills, comprehend cause and effect, pass on their knowledge, demonstrate self-control, and even worry.
- Chicken is the most common type of poultry in the world. There is significant variation in cooking methods amongst cultures. Historically common methods include roasting, baking, and frying.
Chicken has well-documented health benefits and makes a fantastic substitute for red meats. Here’s how chicken powers your body:
High-Quality Protein
Protein helps your body to maintain muscle mass and also helps you to build muscle. A 100g serving of roasted chicken offers you 27g of protein and zero grams of carbohydrates. Check its full nutritional value: USDA FoodData Central.
Rich in Vitamins & Minerals
Chicken is also very rich in vitamins and minerals.
- Vitamin B3 (niacin): According to the Linus Pauling Institute for Micronutrient Research, Vitamin B3 is necessary for energy metabolism, manufacturing cholesterol, and fatty acids.
- Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) and tryptophan together have a calming effect on your body and this makes chicken an excellent option after a stressful day. Tryptophan has been linked to higher levels of serotonin, the “feel-good” hormone. Eating chicken won´t make you feel instantly euphoric, but studies show it could help to boost serotonin levels.
- Vitamin B6 is needed for the synthesis of neurotransmitters, it is essential for converting stored energy (from glycogen to glucose), and helps to break down proteins.
- Vitamin B12 and choline together promote brain development in children, help the nervous system function properly and aid cognitive performance in older adults.
- Vitamin D helps in calcium absorption and bone strengthening. Chicken is rich in phosphorus and calcium, which keep bones in mint condition. Also, it has selenium which has been known to cut the risk of arthritis.
- Vitamin A helps in building eyesight and minerals such as iron are helpful in hemoglobin formation, muscle activity, and eliminating anemia.
- Potassium and sodium are electrolytes that aid in fluid balance.
- Magnesium helps soothe symptoms of pre-menstrual syndrome.
- Zinc helps regulate testosterone levels and boost sperm production.
Control of Blood Pressure
What you eat is very important in reducing blood pressure (hypertension). Chicken consumption has been found to be useful in controlling blood pressure. This was observed in people with hypertension, though the diet was also comprised of nuts, low-fat dietary products, vegetables, and fruits.
Researchers in Japan conducted a study to see if collagen – a protein found in chicken legs – could be broken up by the stomach into smaller proteins that lower blood pressure. The results suggest that chicken collagen hydrolysate (CCH) exerted modulatory effects on the human circulation system.
Reduced Cholesterol
In recent years, the focus has shifted from how much cholesterol a food contains to how much-saturated fat that food has. The more saturated fats you eat, the more LDL cholesterol your body makes.
The amount of saturated fat and cholesterol found in red meat is higher than the levels found in chicken. Therefore, the American Heart Association has advised consuming chicken (or fish) instead of red meat for a lowered risk of cholesterol. However, the AHA also says that chicken must be limited to normal levels, as excessive consumption can also lead to the development of heart disease.
Balances Cortisol Hormones
Consuming chicken can balance cortisol hormones in your body. Imbalanced cortisol hormones could in increased stressed levels. This mainly happens due to improper functioning of the adrenal gland. Read All you need to know about cortisol.
And now, what you came here for, 30 healthy chicken recipes:
I don’t tend to like chicken, but it is relatively inexpensive, however I don’t care for it much because of the hormones used to grow them rapidly. So one might look for how they are fed. Organic or range free may mean they are not in cages but in crowded pens. I am not vegetarian, but I constantly think about this and just conserve on what I get and how it’s grown. If one were vegan or vegetarian, how could they compensate?
I totally understand your concerns. Different foods have different issues in some countries, and none in others. Tuna is always my first example. Eating tuna in the US seems even dangerous due to mercury levels, while in Europe there is no concern about it. In Spain we´re concerned about hormoned catle and pigs, but not chicken. I mean, you can spot the difference between the store´s chickens and home-grown chickens. They look differently, taste differently, so they are fed differently.
In the other hand, ethics concerns on food are nothing but respectable. Vegans and vegetarians have plant options to replace this protein, legumes and nuts, for example :)
I didn’t know that about different countries having different issues on how their meat is raised. Thank you for the info and the recipes.
My pleasure 😊
Does your Evernote work already?
Ihaven’t tried again, I’ve had company, a cruise, Comic-Con and just not had time to upload it to my new phone. I had told you my old one was stolen? It was located clear across our county but the blip didn’t last long when they realized they couldn’t access my apple account, even though they tried and I blocked it so I’m guessing it was thrown away shortly after. So when I get better I will access it again. I think my desktop allows me access though.
Yes, you told me, but not all the story 😨 Hope your new phone stays with you much longer 👌☺️
Yummy Yummy…which one is your favorite? Creating my grocery list ;-)
XxX
Glad you like it :)
With lime and mint is my fav. Or marinated chicken in lemon juice, it´s delicious!
Hugs :)
The marinated version sounds indeed delicious. Going to prepare it this week :-) XxX
Cool :D
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