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Benefits of Eating Turkey and Turkey Breast
- High in Protein
- Promotes Better Sleep
- Aids Weight Loss
- Packed with Selenium
- May Fight Depression
Turkey is High in Protein
Turkey is a good protein food, packing in 14.4 grams per three-ounce serving of turkey breast.
We need protein for just about everything. Not only are our hair, skin and nails made up of proteins, but protein also transports oxygen, aids in blood clotting, and repairs and regenerates tissue cells.
Furthermore, getting enough protein in your diet can help keep your weight under control, promote brain and heart health, and even maintain normal blood sugar levels.
Eating Turkey Promotes Better Sleep
If you’ve ever felt your eyelids drooping after indulging in a turkey feast, there’s a good reason. Turkey is high in tryptophan, an amino acid that helps regulate sleep.
Tryptophan is a precursor to melatonin, a hormone that’s involved in controlling your sleep-wake cycle. One analysis made up of 19 studies demonstrated that melatonin can increase total sleep time, reduce the time it takes to fall asleep and improve overall sleep quality.
Eating Turkey Aids in Weight Loss
Turkey is commonly associated with Thanksgiving, a holiday that involves gorging yourself on stuffing, sweet potato casserole and mashed potatoes to the point of discomfort. So, is turkey healthy for weight loss, or is turkey fattening?
Turkey meat nutrition is low in calories and high in protein, making it a great dietary addition if you’re looking to shed some pounds. A high-protein diet can help reduce levels of ghrelin, the hunger hormone, to sidestep cravings and reduce appetite. Protein has also been shown to boost metabolism and decrease caloric intake.
Turkey is Packed with Selenium
Turkey is a good source of selenium, supplying 27 percent of your daily selenium requirement in each three-ounce serving. This mineral plays a central role in many aspects of health. Selenium benefits your metabolism, increases immunity, and acts as an antioxidant to protect against free radical damage and inflammation.
This important mineral has also been shown to have anticancer properties and has even been associated with a decreased risk of coronary heart disease.
Eating Turkey May Help Fight Depression
Thanks to its high tryptophan content, turkey may also aid in the treatment of conditions like depression. This is because tryptophan is able to boost the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that is found in the brain, digestive tract and blood platelets. Serotonin is thought to control mood balance, and a deficit has been linked to a higher risk of depression.
Turkey Nutrition
- Turkey is low in calories and carbohydrates but loaded with important nutrients like protein, selenium, phosphorus and riboflavin.
- A three-ounce (84 grams) serving of turkey breast contains approximately:
- 87 calories, 3.6 grams carbohydrates, 14.4 grams protein, 1.5 grams fat, 0.3 grams fiber, 19.2 micrograms selenium (27 percent DV), 136.2 milligrams phosphorus (15 percent DV), 0.3 milligrams riboflavin (15 percent DV), 4.8 milligrams vitamin C (9 percent DV)
- Turkey breast also contains some iron, potassium, zinc, thiamin and vitamin B6.