Chicken Nutrition Surprise – Look Who's Got Omega 3 And 6
The term 'fatty acid' is a bit confusing. Do we really want to ingest something that's called 'fatty?' The simple answer is; "Yes, in this case, we do."
Fatty acids are necessary for all systems of the body to function properly. You need them for your brain, skin, breathing, and blood. It's pretty easy to see that you can't get along without fatty acids in your diet.
Two very important fatty acids are omega-3 and omega-6. Health professionals all agree that these fatty acids are absolutely essential to maintain overall health.
Omega-3 is important for controlling blood clotting, supporting cell growth in the brain, protecting against heart disease, stroke, fighting cancer, inflammation of the bowels, as well as fighting other autoimmune diseases, even arthritis.
Omega-6 has been proven to lower LDL cholesterol, protect against heart disease, relieve inflammation, build healthy skin, hair, and bones, as well as boost metabolism.
Experts don't necessarily agree on what ratio to each other these two fatty acids should be consumed. Our diets are often lacking in both, so the ratio becomes less important than just making sure you eat some of each fatty acid every day.
When you look at the benefits of each omega-3 and omega-6, you can see why it's important to get some of these essential fatty acids in your diet on a regular basis.
That brings us to the subject of food and nutrition. These two fatty acids cannot produce themselves in the body, so you have to find ways to ingest them. We know fish such as salmon, tuna, and sardines provide these healthy fatty acids. You should also add nuts, healthy oils, and plenty of green leafy vegetables to your diet for even more omega-3 and omega-6.
But, along with these foods, there are others to consider. If you eat chicken, pork, or beef, which offers the best nutrition? Let's compare chicken with some other meats to see what we can learn about the nutritional value.
Chicken white meat - omega-3, 98 mg; omega-6, 826 mg
Chicken dark meat - omega-3, 210 mg; omega-6, 2366 mg
Pork tenderloin - omega-3, 11 mg; omega-6, 360 mg
Beef tenderloin - omega-3, 20 mg; omega-6, 207 mg
These meats may not be on the level of an omega super-food like salmon, but you have to admit, when it comes to choosing a fatty acid rich protein, choosing chicken is a pretty good idea – and delicious, too!
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