Last Updated on by San San
Whether you’re on a fitness journey or you’re working on improving your weight to your preference, one of the most common ingredients in your diet would be chicken breasts. Who wouldn’t consider chicken breasts, right? It comes highly recommended by many coaches and fitness trainers. Even doctors include chicken breasts in their patients’ diets. So, we’re now down to some questions about chicken breasts, “how many calories in 6oz chicken breast?” Let’s get on with it.
How Many Calories In 6oz Chicken Breast
Of all the meat products on the market, chicken is one of the most popular among them. Not only are they inexpensive and easy to prepare, but chicken is also found in myriads of cuisines. You can find chicken in almost every supermarket in the world. And, not one of them would keep out chicken.
While all of us around the world enjoy the cheap meat that chicken provides, have you stopped and wondered if eating chicken is good for you and your health in general? If you are unsure of how chicken will affect your health, continue to read this article.
Here are some ways how eating chicken will benefit you positively or negatively.
Raising Chickens
Chickens were first domesticated in southwestern China, Myanmar, and northern Thailand. Chickens nowadays are raised in three methods, free-roaming, organic, and the conventional way.
Free-roaming, as the name suggests, allows the chicken to roam around a farm. On the other hand, we have the organic method. The organic method allows the chicken to roam freely and be fed natural foods. And finally, the conventional method, a method that is controversial by many.
Conventionally raised chickens are raised in tight cages and injected with hormones to speed up growth. These chickens will never have the opportunity to get out of the cage unless it is time to butcher it.
Of the three methods, the organic method will yield the healthiest chicken. They are not fed with any feeds and are not injected with antibiotics. However, these chickens are quite expensive.
Depending on which chicken you ate, the result may vary. You can’t expect that conventional chicken will give you the same benefits as organic chickens. Conventional chicken is full of fats and some injected chemicals into them, while the organic chicken is natural. There is no comparison between the two.
Health Benefits of Chicken
But for simplicity’s sake, let’s assume you have the healthiest chicken around. So how will eating that chicken benefit your health?
Chicken Calories
Different parts of the chicken have different proportions of fat and lean meat on them. But let’s use chicken breast as an example. Chicken breast is the leanest part of the bird and is a great source of protein. The bodybuilding enthusiasts know how beneficial protein is to their diet. The chicken breast will help them gain muscle mass while having little to no fat in it. Protein will also aid in building and repairing muscle.
Since chicken is relatively inexpensive and easy to procure, it is the staple diet for those who are having a healthy eating plan. For those who are curious, how many calories are in 6oz chicken breast? Chicken breast contains 281 calories.
If you are concerned with the number of calories it has in it, you shouldn’t be. Doing cardio for 30 minutes is enough to burn those away. To further reduce the calories and fat of chicken breast, you can remove the skin from it. However, a few grams of protein are removed as well.
Vitamins And Minerals
Chicken is not only a good source of protein, but it offers some vitamins and minerals as well. For example, it contains selenium which acts as an antibiotic and enhances your immune system response.
Vitamin B, in chicken, is known to enhance cell production and boost your energy. Vitamin D is used to absorb calcium better and lead to stronger bones. Minerals such as zinc are vital for the immune system, aiding healthy growth in childhood, and aiding in healing wounds. Phosphorus will support the calcium in the formation of bones and helps kidney and liver function.
Chicken also contains copper in it. While many are familiar with the metal copper, not many are familiar with how useful copper is. Copper is an essential mineral that plays a role in iron absorption, aiding the immune system, and maintaining nerve cells.
Also, chicken contains ZERO carbohydrates.
Low On Cholesterol
Compared to other meat products such as pork, beef, and lamb. Chicken does not offer the same levels of cholesterol as those animal products. So if you have chronic illnesses, it is advised that you eat chicken, particularly the breast, to avoid further increasing your cholesterol levels.
However, do not eat chicken in excess. Chicken, like any other meat product, also contains a few grams of cholesterol.
Downsides
Eating chicken offers a lot of benefits, but there are also downsides to consider. Not all chicken meat is cooked in the same way. After all, it would be pretty dull to eat just one chicken cuisine. But there are dishes that you particularly need to avoid eating too much.
Examples of unhealthy chicken cooking are fried chicken, chicken nuggets, and chicken tenders. These cookings are known to contain high amounts of carbs, calories, and fats. It’s fine to enjoy them from time to time, but avoid eating them as a regular diet.
Another would be heavily processed chicken meats. For example, chicken ham, hotdogs, and patties contain high amounts of sodium and preservatives.
Eating all the processed or unhealthy chicken cooking can lead to increased chances of developing chronic illnesses. You can avoid this by eating a healthy diet and living an active lifestyle.
Last but not the least, chicken meat in general can be considered an allergen for some people. When taken three to four meals in a few consecutive days, it can be irritating or dangerous to some people.
Healthiest Ways To Cook Chicken
By cooking the chicken through the healthiest methods, you can maximize its benefit of it. Here are the healthiest ways to cook a chicken.
- Baking the Chicken: Baking the chicken is a good alternative, especially for those who are trying to lose weight. Baking ensures that any excess fat is removed while all the vitamins and minerals stay.
- Grilling The Chicken: Grilling the chicken also helps remove most of the fat while the vitamins and minerals stay the same. If you want, you can also add some vegetables to have a balanced diet.
- Stir-Fried Chicken: Stir fry chicken is simple and does not add any unnecessary fat and calories. Add some spices to the chicken to enhance the flavour.
The bottom line is that chicken should always be cooked fully but without the burns and the unhealthy seasoning that’s not all good for the body like salt and soybean and vegetable oil.
The Conclusion
Chicken is rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals. But to get the most out of it, you need to cook it in the healthiest ways. Make sure to add some greens along with your chicken to have a well-balanced diet. So when you think about how many calories in 6oz chicken breast can satisfy you in a day, it is really worth the consideration for your fitness journey.
