Protein is essential for the body to build muscles, recover cells, boost immunity, and help maintain good body shape. The body gets protein and amino acids mostly from a well-balanced diet. Dieticians and health experts say that you require 0.8 grams of protein per your body weight daily to ensure the body's smooth functioning. Chicken is undoubtedly one of the most amazing sources of protein. Besides, it has less fat compared to other meats. Chicken also contains the essential B vitamins, selenium and choline. However, is it healthy to eat chicken every day? Here are some of the risks of eating chicken regularly.
Increases risk of heart diseases
Even though chicken has less fat than red meat, the former contains saturated fats. So, eating chicken every day could lead to high cholesterol levels and may increase the risk of heart disease. According to a study published in the JAMA Internal Medicine, the risk of heart disease is 60 percent higher in those who consume animal-based protein compared to plant-based proteins like pulses and grains.
Cancer risk
A study published in the Journal of Cancer in 2019 says that those who eat chicken every day have a slightly higher chance of getting certain types of cancer, including non-Hodgkin lymphoma and prostate cancer. Frying or grilling chicken at high temperatures forms carcinogenic molecules like Heterocyclic Amino Acids (HCA) and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH).
Digestion and food safety
Food-borne bacteria like salmonella or campylobacter found in chicken may harm health. According to a report published by the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 1 million Americans are affected by salmonella every year. This bacterium is spread mainly through uncooked chicken.
Weight gain
Although chicken is often considered a food item that aids weight loss, the results may be quite the opposite if not consumed mindfully. It may lead to weight gain if you cannot manage your total calorie intake while eating chicken daily. Processed chicken items like nuggets and fried chicken have high amounts of sodium, calories and unhealthy fats. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition study notes that those who regularly rely on chicken for protein instead of fish, beans and pulses are likely to gain more weight.
Antibiotic resistance
A study published in the Journal of Food Science and Technology in 2018 found that the antibiotics and hormones injected into chickens at farms could cause serious health problems in humans. Regular consumption of these chickens could cause antibiotic resistance and hormone-related issues, making treating infections using antibiotics difficult.
