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Shifa Fatima, MSc.
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Dr. Apoorva T, MHM.
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Is Chicken Good for Diabetes?
Chicken is one of the most consumed foods across the world. It's delectable, adaptable, cost-effective, and simple to prepare. If you have diabetes and wish to minimize your carbohydrate and sugar intake, chicken is a God-send. Many people are confused about whether chicken is good for people with diabetes or not.
Chicken might be an excellent choice for people who have diabetes. It is high in essential proteins and low in fat. There are several health benefits of eating chicken, and the best part is that you can cook it in many possible ways. No matter what chicken type you want, it will give your health a boost. Let's move on and read more about how people with diabetes can eat chicken.
Table of Contents
Benefits of Chicken
- Availability of protein: Chicken is high in protein, necessary for maintaining muscular health.
- Weight-loss: Chicken is usually included in a healthy diet since it is essentially lean meat, meaning it has less fat. As a result, eating chicken might assist you in healthily losing weight.
- Strong bones: In addition to protein, chicken is abundant in calcium and phosphorus. Both of these minerals are excellent for your bones. Regularly eating chicken lowers the chance of developing arthritis.
- Immune system booster: Have you ever wondered why doctors recommend chicken soup as part of your recovery meals when you have a cold or the flu? It's a win-win situation, since chicken helps the body's immune cells, and the steam from the soup clears the nasal passages. Chicken soup is the best way to heal from most ailments and colds. Know about diabetes treatment.
Benefits of Chicken for Diabetes
Chicken is safe to eat for people who have diabetes. The manner of preparation, on the other hand, is crucial!
- Nutritional benefits: Chicken is loved by millions because of its flavour and health advantages. It aids weight loss and cholesterol regulation by providing a large amount of protein, minerals, and vitamins. Vitamin K in the liver aids in the normalization of blood clotting, allowing wounds to heal more quickly.
- Low-fat content: Because of its minimal fat content, chicken is beneficial to people who have diabetes. The fat content in red meat is exceptionally high, producing higher cholesterol levels, leading to arterial blockages and coronary heart disease. As a result, individuals with diabetes should substitute red meat in their diets for chicken. It also has a positive effect on the heart and kidneys of people who have diabetes.
- Help in sugar level management: Chicken broth is good for people with diabetes. It is a minimal-GI meal that might help you keep your blood sugar levels in check. Furthermore, it can also aid you if you have type 2 diabetes, as chicken broth is beneficial for any digestive problems. Chicken soup is preferable since you can consume it more easily.
- Helps in Weight reduction: Chicken is an excellent diet for diabetic individuals (type 2) who have been accustomed to a meat-rich diet. Chicken contains less fat, making it more straightforward for people with diabetes to reduce weight, which is essential for diabetes care. Also know about reversing type 2 diabetes.
Expert Tips
- Instead of hormone-injected poultry, choose free-range or organic chicken.
- Choose skinless chicken
- Choose boiled or grilled forms that require less oil.
Nutritional Value in 250 gm of Chicken
- 28.89 gm protein.
- 32.64 grams of fat.
- 5.95 g saturated fat.
- 68.24 gm carbohydrates.
- 1190.58 mg sodium.
- 507.99 mg potassium, 44.37 mg calcium, 2.75 mg zinc.
Different Ways to Consume Chicken for Diabetes
Let's have a look at different ways in which you can relish some yummy chicken:
- Stuffed Chicken Breast
- Preheat the microwave to 365 degrees Fahrenheit (185 C).
- Cut an incision lengthwise midway up the breast to create a pouch for the stuffing.
- Cut the artichoke, mozzarella, tomatoes, basil, and garlic into small pieces.
- To blend, stir everything together.
- Put the stuffing into the pocket you made in the chicken breast.
- Seal the filling with toothpicks.
- Season the chicken breast with curry powder, pepper, and paprika and put it on a foil.
- Remove the toothpicks and consume them after baking for about 20 minutes.
- Baked Chicken Tenders with Mustard
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit (220C).
- In a large mixing bowl, mix the tarragon, mustard, lemon juice, paprika, garlic, salt, and pepper.
- Toss in the chicken and stir well.
- You want the mustard sauce to cover each piece of chicken.
- Cover and move the sauce and chicken and sauce to a big baking dish. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through.
- Cut one of the tenders midway through to see whether it's done. It's done when the fluids are transparent and the flesh is white.
- Grilled Chicken
- Place the chicken in a zip bag and seal it.
- Pour olive oil, balsamic vinegar, minced garlic, dried parsley, dry rosemary, dry sage, dry thyme, salt, and pepper over the chicken in a small bowl.
- Close the bag firmly and gently shake it to thoroughly coat the chicken.
- Allow the chicken to marinate for around 2 hours in the refrigerator.
- Preheat the grill to medium-high heat once the chicken has marinated.
- Keep them for 8-10 minutes on each side on the grill or under the broiler, or until the chicken turns white, and the juices become transparent.
Bottomline
Can people with diabetes eat chicken? "Yes," because chicken offers several health advantages, including increased immunity. It is rich in proteins, minerals such as iron, phosphorus, and calcium, as well as vitamins such as B, A, and D. Most significantly, chicken contains a low glycemic index, which means it will never spike your blood sugar levels. Read more to know about what level of blood sugar is dangerous?
FAQs
1. Is grilled chicken good for people with diabetes?
Yes, grilled chicken is good for people with diabetes. Grilling chicken is a healthy way of cooking that does not cause blood sugar levels to rise.
2. What are the disadvantages of eating chicken for people with diabetes?
People with diabetes are more likely to get UTIs or urinary tract infections, and the high protein content of chicken raises the risk. It can occasionally lower good cholesterol while raising bad cholesterol.
3. Can people with diabetes eat fried chicken?
Chicken is a good choice for a diabetes-friendly diet, except when it's coated in flour or bread and fried. Fried chicken includes not just carbohydrates, but also saturated calories and fat, which can be dangerous for a person with diabetes. Adding breadcrumbs is commonly visible in fried chicken, which may add a lot of carbs, harmful fats, and calories. A diet high in fat can contribute to weight increase, which can exacerbate type 2 diabetes. As a result, it is better to avoid such meals.
4. Is chicken broth good for people with diabetes?
Chicken broth is a low-GI meal that may help you maintain a healthy blood sugar level.
5. Can people with diabetes eat chicken livers?
People with diabetes who suffer from slow blood clotting and whose injuries stay fresher for longer and heal more slowly should eat liver.
References
- https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/diabetic-chicken-recipes
Disclaimer
This website's content is provided only for educational reasons and is not meant to be a replacement for professional medical advice. Due to individual differences, the reader should contact their physician to decide whether the material is applicable to their case.