Want a healthy heart? Eat white meat

Due to the increasing risk of heart diseases like hypertension, stroke and heart failures, health experts have advised that people reduce the intake of any form of fat as this leads to some of these ailments. If you want to have a healthy heart, you have to learn what to eat and what to avoid […]

Due to the increasing risk of heart diseases like hypertension, stroke and heart failures, health experts have advised that people reduce the intake of any form of fat as this leads to some of these ailments. If you want to have a healthy heart, you have to learn what to eat and what to avoid as all of the food you eat affects your health.

Eating more poultry products like white meat, turkey can help decrease your risk of cardiovascular diseases. White meat is a healthy alternative to fatty meats like beef and goat.

Chicken and turkey are an excellent source of protein and contain less fat than most meats, especially the breast which contains half the fat of beef. It is also a good source of vitamin B6, which in conjunction with niacin, is good for energy production by helping the body’s conversion of proteins, fats and carbohydrates into useable energy as well as good cardiovascular health.

Mrs Victoria Ahuoiza Ajako, Assistant Chief Dietitician at the National Hospital, Abuja collaborated this. “Turkey and chicken contain Omega 3 oil which is good for the heart. It is safe for people that are controlling their weight and watching their cholesterol level. But also if you are on a diet that does not require taking oil, then you can remove the skin of the chicken or turkey. That is the part that contains oil.”

“Chicken and fish traditionally have been considered healthier than red meat because many cuts of red meat can have too much saturated fat,” says Peter O. Kwiterovich, M.D of The Johns Hopkins University Lipid Clinic.

Feeding your heart well is a powerful way to reduce or even eliminate some risk factors. Adopting a heart-healthy nutritional strategy can help reduce total LDL cholesterol (the “bad” cholesterol), lower blood pressure, lower blood sugars, and reduce body weight. While most dietary plans just tell you what you can’t eat, the most powerful nutritional strategy helps you focus on what you can eat. In fact, research into heart disease has shown that adding heart-saving foods is just as important as cutting back on others.

The benefits of eating white meat such as chicken and turkey are many. They are rich sources of a variety of essential nutrients and vitamins, which assist in strengthening the immune system of the body. Chicken and turkey are also reputed to be the safest meats available as they are least associated with any side effects of consumption. Many scientific studies have been conducted on them to assert their healthy properties and most of the researchers have found very positive effects of the meat on human health.