5 Health Benefits of Turkey

Did you know that Americans eat 5 billion pounds of turkey every year? That equates to 16 pounds of turkey per person!¹

Turkey is enjoyed all year long by many people across the world. Here are some of the great health benefits of eating turkey!

High in Nutrients

One health benefit of turkey is that it is high in nutrients. Turkey is low in fat and carbs and is a good source of phosphorous. Specifically, two slices of turkey have:

24 grams of Protein
61% of the Daily Value of Vitamin B3
49% of the Daily Value of Vitamin B6
29% of the Daily Value of Vitamin B12²

In order to receive the most nutrients, it is recommended to eat dark turkey meat rather than white meat. This is because dark meat has more micronutrients, and it also helps metabolizes the protein, carbs, and fats in your body.³

Heart Health

Another health benefit of turkey is that it may help improve your heart health. This is because turkey has a lot of potassium and micronutrients, which is good for your heart. Additionally, a study of a group of women found that those who consumed more poultry, such as turkey, were found to have a lower risk of developing coronary artery disease.⁴

In order to ensure you are receiving the heart healthy benefits from turkey, the American Heart Association recommends that your turkey doesn’t have too much seasoning, you do not consume the skin, and stay away from processed turkey.⁵

Improves Mental Health

Another health benefit of turkey is that turkey can improve your mental health. This is because turkey has tryptophan, an amino acid. Tryptophan is responsible for increasing the levels of serotonin in your brain.⁶

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that helps regulate your mood. Serotonin can increase your happiness levels and boost your mood. If you do not have enough serotonin in your body, your chances of developing depression and anxiety increase.⁷

Lowers Risk of Cancer

An additional health benefit of turkey is that it may lower your chances of getting cancer. This is because turkey is rich in the mineral selenium. Certain studies have shown that selenium helps reduce the risk of getting bladder, breast, lung, and stomach cancers.⁸

According to the Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, the selenium in turkey may also help with cancer treatments. Specifically, selenium may help ease the side effects caused by cancer treatments, however more studies need to be conducted to reach a clear conclusion.⁹

Help with Weight Loss

Another health benefit of turkey is that it may help you lose weight. This is because turkey has few calories, a lot of protein, and little fat. When you eat a food rich in protein, such as turkey, you lower the levels of the hunger hormone, ghrelin.¹⁰

According to a recent study, the more protein-rich foods people consumed, the more weight and fat they lost. Additionally, the study found that participants had a lean body mass and smaller waist circumference.¹¹

Ways to Incorporate Turkey in Your Diet

There are a variety of ways that you could include turkey in your diet. Here are some examples you could try:

Have a turkey sandwich
Add turkey to a casserole
Add turkey to a salad
Make chili with turkey
Have a turkey pot pie
Make lasagna with turkey

Saber Healthcare

Saber Healthcare is an organization that provides consulting services to more than 130 buildings across the states of Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, Indiana, and Delaware. To learn more about our company and services, click here.

Saber Healthcare is an organization dedicated to providing consultant services to long-term care providers. This article is for informational purposes and is not meant to be seen as professional advice. Please consult with a medical expert before relying on the information provided.

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