A significant component of many diets may actually be more harmful than beneficial, according to recent research.
Many of us strive to eat more healthily by keeping an eye on our calorie and sugar intake.
While extensive research has been conducted to determine what constitutes the ‘healthiest’ meal, even foods we believe to be beneficial might not be as healthy as they seem.
For a low-calorie meal option, some might opt for the ‘chicken and broccoli’ diet. According to Statista, the average American consumes approximately 100 pounds of chicken annually.
WebMD notes that chicken is a good protein source and is rich in amino acids, which are essential for muscle tissue development.
However, like everything, moderation is crucial, as a recent study suggests that excessive chicken consumption may lead to negative consequences.
Italian researchers have found a potential link between chicken consumption and gastrointestinal cancer.
The study, titled ‘Does Poultry Consumption Increase the Risk of Mortality for Gastrointestinal Cancers? A Preliminary Competing Risk Analysis’, involved 4,869 participants.
“Analyzing weekly poultry consumption, it was observed that subjects consuming more than 300 g had a 27% higher risk of death from all causes than those consuming less than 100 g.” the study states.
“Our study showed that poultry consumption above 300 g/week is associated with a statistically significant increased mortality risk both from all causes and from GCs.”
While the exact cause remains unclear, researchers suggest it could relate to how chickens are kept and fed, or potentially from overcooking chicken, which can produce high levels of mutagens—substances that could lead to genetic mutations.
The study also noted that the increased mortality risk was more pronounced in men than in women.
“However, further studies are needed to confirm our findings and learn more about the effects of processed poultry. In our opinion, it is important to learn more about the long-term effects of this food category, white meat, that is widely consumed by the world population who, perhaps mistakenly, consider it healthy in absolute terms.” the researchers concluded.
“We believe it is beneficial to moderate poultry consumption, alternating it with other equally valuable protein sources, such as fish.
“We also believe it is essential to focus more on cooking methods, avoiding high temperatures and prolonged cooking times.”