The average American consumes around 100 pounds of chicken a year, which works out to 30 ounces (or 850 grams) per week. Not only is chicken an affordable and versatile meal staple for the whole family, but it’s generally much healthier than red meat like steak and ground beef, processed meats like sausage and bacon, and fatty cuts of pork. But research suggests that chicken harbors some hidden health dangers of its own. In fact, a new study found that eating a certain amount of chicken could “significantly” increase one’s risk of death.
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New research examined the connection between poultry consumption and gastrointestinal cancers.
A study published this week in the journal Nutrients sought to examine the connection between poultry consumption and the risk of mortality associated with gastrointestinal cancers.
The researchers note that in Italy, where the study was conducted, and in the United States, white meat intake is on the rise. This is likely due to increased awareness that eating red meat and processed meats can raise the risk of heart disease, certain cancers, and more. On the flip side, the study notes that chicken breast is 93 percent protein and has just seven percent fat.
To arrive at their findings, the team collected health data from nearly 5,000 participants who grouped their weekly meat consumption into three categories: total meat, red meat, and poultry. On average, they were tracked for 19 years.
Poultry can increase risk of death by 27 percent, the study found.
At the conclusion of the study period, 1,028 participants died, 108 of whom died from gastrointestinal cancers, including colorectal cancer (37), liver cancer (28), and pancreatic cancer (22). An additional 180 deaths were due to other cancers.
Overall, for the 1,028 deceased subjects, the percentage of red meat consumed out of their total weekly meat consumption was 59 percent, while for white meat, it was 41 percent. Among those who died of gastrointestinal cancers, the percentage of red meat consumption was 56 percent, while for white meat it was 44 percent.
Based on these metrics, the researchers concluded that eating more than 300 grams of poultry a week is “associated with a statistically significant increased mortality risk” from all causes and gastrointestinal cancers. They found that the risk is higher for men than women. Consuming more than this amount correlated with a 27 percent higher risk of death compared to consuming fewer than 100 grams.
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Based on the results, here’s how much chicken you should be eating.
To put the study results into perspective, 300 grams equates to 10.6 ounces, roughly the equivalent of .66 pounds of chicken, or one large chicken breast.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines one serving of chicken breast as 3 ounces—meaning you should not be eating more than three servings of chicken per week, according to the study results. This is nearly 65 percent less chicken than the average American eats in a week.
Moreover, a separate recent study published in the journal Nature Food examined how much meat people should eat each week to satisfy both environmental and nutritional constraints. When it came to poultry and pork, they determined an even smaller weekly allotment—255 grams, or about two chicken breasts a week.
The takeaway:
Many Americans are eating more chicken to replace red meat and processed meats, both of which are well known to contribute to heart disease and certain cancers. However, a new study posits that eating more than three servings of chicken per week could increase your risk of all-cause mortality and gastrointestinal cancers.
However, the researchers note that “further studies are needed to confirm our findings and learn more about the effects of processed poultry.” In addition, the study did not take into account participants’ physical activity levels, “a potentially serious limitation given previous research findings linking physical activity with all causes and cause-specific mortality.”
In the meantime, the scientists recommend eating poultry in moderation and replacing it with other lean sources of protein, such as fish.
Content shared from bestlifeonline.com.