Sunday, September 18, 2011

Heart Health and Eating Chicken

By Nigel Wickenden


Heart disease has been known to be the number one cause of death for women. To reduce the risk of heart disease, the American Heart Association (AHA) recommends acquiring a balanced diet by eating a variety of whole-grain products, fruits and vegetables. AHA dietary guidelines also consist of a diet low in saturated fat, trans fat, sodium and cholesterol.

When shifting to a heart-healthy diet, chicken instantly comes to mind because it is quick and easy-to-prepare. Some people also choose other lean meats like pork, lean ground beef and skinless chicken breasts. Chicken skin is rich in fat and calories; hence, removing the skin from the chicken breast makes it an excellent source of low-fat protein, which contributes greatly to having a healthy heart diet.

There are several ways of cooking chicken, from frying to poaching. Roasting and baking chicken is healthier for the heart. However, grilling is the best and healthiest way to cook chicken because the fat is drained away and much flavor is absorbed.

Youngsters enjoy fried chicken and chicken nuggets, however these are commonly fried in hot oil to feature a crispy coating. Alas, this oil makes the nuggets greasy and also high in fat and cholesterol. Nutritionists and other professionals advocate placing the chicken in a bag together with a seasoned bread mix, and then baking them in an oven. Oven fried chicken nuggets will still incorporate a crispy coating without that superfluous fat from frying.

The heart and chicken gizzards are commonly packaged together and offered for sale as giblets. They are utilized to add flavor to any sauce, soup and stew. The heart and gizzard are very good sources of protein, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, zinc, selenium and iron. They also contain riboflavin, folic acid, thiamine, niacin, pantothenic acid, and omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Nevertheless, it is not recommended for people watching their cholesterol intake to eat chicken heart and gizzard because of its high cholesterol content.




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