Chicken Meat – A Healthy Alternative for Beef and Pork?

Are you one of those who made chicken meat a healthy alternative for beef and pork consumption? Many people resort to consumption of chicken meat because of fear of cholesterol and high fat content of beef and pork thinking they made a healthier choice if they consume chicken.

I knew someone who is into poultry business. They themselves seldom eat chicken because of the multi-growth enhancing techniques made to the chickens to make sure that their chicken are big and meaty and ready for sale just in short period of time compared to if they will just let their chicken grow in a natural way.

If you will check the diet of chicken grown in poultry, they are fed with unnatural diet (feeds). And the worst thing is they are grown in a limited space for them not to move well. Now, with all these facts, tell me how can you expect that chicken meat is healthy and low in fat and cholesterol? I was not surprised to hear that skinless chicken has 18 percent of its calories from fats, how much more if skin is included? Did you know that chicken skin is rich in bad cholesterol?

I seldom eat chicken, and if I do I prefer to eat “native chicken”, those that eat natural food (grains and coconut meat) and exercise a lot everyday, those chicken that you need to hide, seek and run after your choice to be meat before you can sip a hot chicken soup. Wow, it is really satisfying to eat such kind of chicken.

If you are aiming to consume no bad cholesterol and low fat foods, eat lots of fruits and vegetables instead of meat. Fish is more healthy alternative to beef and pork consumption than chicken meat. But, beans and grains combination is the most healthy alternative for meat if we talk about protein. Aside from protein and other essential nutrients, you can get fibers from fruits and vegetables which cannot be found in meat.

Why We Consider Junk Food an Unhealthy Food

“Why we consider junk food an unhealthy food and why it is called junk Aunt Midas?” my niece asked me yesterday afternoon while we are buying some stuff at the supermarket. I simply answered her that junk foods are bad foods especially those that are preserved, they are not good for the body. Junk food is an unhealthy food, not fit for eating. But she insisted that there are healthy junk foods too because of some nutritional value you could find on its packs that is why eating junk foods is fine. She made me smile that time, yes, all foods have some value but it does not mean that it has a little nutritional value you could categorize it as healthy or nutritious food. I explained to her that junk foods effects, could not be seen immediately, that it takes time before she could see its bad effects.

Why we categorize junk foods as unhealthy foods? Not just because of its low nutritional value that it was called unhealthy food but because of junk foods effects, the hazards it could cause to one’s health. Junk foods are usually high in fats. As we could see on the back label of a junk food, the fats they mostly use are hydrogenated oils, the common term for trans fatty acids or trans fats (could cause cancer). Manufacturers hydrogenate the healthy unsaturated fats so that it will last long. Unfortunately, hydrogenation causes the healthy unsaturated fats to become unhealthy saturated fats which could result to clogged arteries and heart problems. That is just one reason why eating junk foods is not advisable.

And what are some of the junk food effects why junk foods were called an unhealthy foods? High level of salt in a junk food could cause hypertension and, or kidney problems because of its sodium content. If it is a sweet junk food, too much sugar could not only ruin the teeth but could cause obesity and diabetes in the long run. Other junk foods uses aspartame or saccharin as sweetener. These  sweeteners has been linked with other health problems including certain cancers in laboratory animals. Have you seen monosodium glutamate (MSG) listed on the junk food content? This additive is flavor enhancer, as we all know it has bad reputation and been controversial that it could cause cancer. Antioxidants such as Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and  Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) that are widely use in oils of junk food has been linked with certain cancers in laboratory animals too. Now, tell me, is eating junk foods good for the health? Is there such thing as healthy junk foods or you will consider junk foods now as a group of bad foods? Yes, junk food may contain low nutritional value but junk foods effects are so hazardous to ones health.

Television advertising, greatly affects child’s desire for food, especially on unhealthy foods like junk food. Relatives and friends that gives food to the children is another great factor that influences the child’s choice of food. Parents, just bear in mind that your influence in choosing the right food for your kids is still the greatest influence of all. Though it is a little bit difficult to have complete control over what your children are taking in (especially when they are with friends or relatives) but you can and should control the foods that are available at your home. If junk food or any high sugar, high fat, high salt, low nutrient and preserved foods are not available at your home, the child would be force to eat the nutritious food available. So, the best thing is do not keep foods that you do not want your child to consume, those you consider unhealthy foods for your family like junk food.