Most of the time, when people go on special occasions, especially in this part of the world in Africa or even on an outing, a major protein they often opt for is chicken.
In essence, poultry is one of the most widely consumed meats globally. This rate of consumption is attributed to its affordability and accessibility. There was also a popular belief that chicken is white meat and most white meat contains low cholesterol compared to red meat, which was debunked in some research. This further informed the gravitation towards its consumption as well.
Poultry meat consumption has been projected to amount to 159.93 metric kilotons by 2033 (carcass weight equivalent) globally, according to Statista. Statistics from Statista further revealed that chicken meat was the most consumed in Africa between 2021 and 2023 at 3.8kg per capita annually. Whereas, this article will expose the risks associated with the overconsumption of poultry meat.
Is Poultry Really the Healthier Meat?
Poultry meat has consistently gained the reputation of being healthier in the debate of red meat vs white meat. Is poultry more nutritious than red meat? There have been different opinions regarding this; while some defend that poultry meat is a healthier alternative to red meat, some have contrary views on this.
According to an article by Stephanie Kay Nutrition, chicken meat is generally leaner than beef, which means it has fewer calories than beef. They also revealed that the fat in chicken is mainly found in its skin, which can be removed to reduce its fat content, compared to beef, whose fat is embedded in the meat itself.
No doubt, poultry meat, just like other foods, has its health benefits. It has a low glycemic index because it doesn’t contain carbohydrates.
There are common travellers’ assumptions and beliefs about poultry meat, which are highlighted below.
- Chicken is safer than red meat in terms of calories.
- Chicken is lean and always a healthier option.
- Chicken meat, being white meat, reduces cancer risk.
Dr Kasenene, a Ugandan Doctor on X, tweeted from another perspective that though chicken is white meat, it doesn’t mean all are healthy. He mentioned the fact that their rearing status could also increase their health risk to humans.
Chicken is white meat. But not all chicken is Healthy. Most chicken today are reared in overcrowded cages, fed artificial feeds full of hormones and antibiotics and are so sickly that they need antibiotics just to stay alive. Such chicken are not healthy and should be avoided. pic.twitter.com/Bt6MkVgpEu
— Dr. Kasenene (@drkasenene) May 23, 2021The image below shows a comparison between white meat and red meat.
Image Source: Canva, Pixabay
The Italian Study: Shocking Findings
Italian study on poultry consumption has raised serious issues about its health risks. This study was published on MDPI.
It particularly examined the health effects of poultry consumption. This study was conducted among 4,869 adults. However, some medical and nutrition experts interviewed by Medical News Today questioned this research. They claimed that the causes of cancer cannot be attributed to one factor, as it is a complex disease.
Experts believed the study should have highlighted the specific type of poultry consumed, dietary patterns and methods of raising them.
Below are key findings from the study.
- People consuming less than 100g still have a lower poultry cancer risk profile.
- People consuming more than 300g of poultry weekly had a 27% higher risk of death from all causes.
- People who consume more than 300g of poultry per week have more than double the risk of dying from gastrointestinal cancers.
- Men were more affected by these negative impacts.
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Risks of Poultry Overconsumption for Frequent Travellers
Overconsumption of poultry meat for travellers is often unavoidable. They usually find it readily available. Unknowingly, excess consumption accumulates unnoticed.
Poultry market globally increased from $352.02 billion in 2022 to $378.84 billion in 2023 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.6%, according to a report by Business Wire. Its market is expected to grow to $487.39 billion at a CAGR of 6.5% by 2027.
Furthermore, it was reported that the largest region in the poultry market in 2022 was Asia Pacific, while Western Europe was the second-largest region in the poultry market. Therefore, it is essential for travellers to intentionally avoid travel diet risks and maintain healthy habits when travelling.
Below are reasons why travellers are especially vulnerable to the risk of poultry meat overconsumption.
- Poultry meat is often preferred over red meat by a large population.
- It is part of fast food choices for travellers on the go.
- It is a quick protein fix for hotels and airlines, so travellers can’t avoid it.
- It is often difficult for travellers to plan their meals properly.
- It isn’t easy to find only plant-based meal options while on the go.
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The image below shows a meal served at an airport restaurant lounge.
Image Source: Freepik
Hidden Health Dangers: Cooking Methods and Processed Poultry
Poultry meat preparation method is significant in terms of how healthy it will be. Most studies have revealed that lean cuts of poultry meat pose minimal health risks. However, its method of preparation can also introduce serious risks.
Medical News Today, in a discussion with some health experts, reported that cooking poultry meat at high temperatures can form compounds such as heterocyclic amines (HCAs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which have been linked to cancer risk.
Processed chicken dangers are undeniable as well. Poultry-containing foods such as sausages, hot dogs, deli meat, and frozen breaded chicken all contain additives that are harmful to the body.
Popular Nigerian health influencer on X, Aproko Doctor, tweeted about the carcinogenic properties of processed meats like hot dogs, corned beef, etc. They are included as Class 1 carcinogenic, which is the same as cigarettes and tobacco. He advised that people should cut down their intake of processed meats or even stop it altogether.
Ladies and gentlemen, this are sausages or hotdogs.
I just want you to know that processed meat like sausages, hot dogs, corned beef, are classified as Group 1 carcinogens
What does this mean? There is STRONG evidence that they cause cancer. pic.twitter.com/jyt3Od6oBe
— Dr. Chinonso Egemba (@aproko_doctor) July 7, 2020Below are some unhealthy chicken cooking methods.
- Grilling or charring
- Smoking
- Deep frying
The image below shows pieces of grilled chicken.
Image Source: Freepik
Below are suggested cooking methods to reduce health risks.
- Baking
- Boiling
- Marinating with healthy herbs and lemon
Healthier Travel Protein Alternatives
Travellers should plan protein alternatives to chicken to avoid excessive poultry food intake.
You can easily carry healthier protein options and even include plant-based travel snacks in your diet on the go. These alternatives are fibre-rich, they reduce cancer risk and improve heart health.
Below are suggested healthy proteins for travellers.
- Boiled eggs
- Lentil snacks
- Tuna pouches
- Plant-based jerky
- Nuts
- Salmon
- Yoghurt
Final Thoughts
Poultry meat is undeniably an enjoyable meat. Most studies I discussed above seem to have cut off the preferred choice of many. However, some experts argue that poultry shouldn’t be completely taken off the menu. They believe other factors could cause cancer, such as exposure to toxins, genetics, environmental conditions, age, inflammation or more. These health practitioners said this doesn’t mean they wouldn’t recommend poultry meat consumption to their patients, especially for people who have included other beneficial eating habits in their diets. However, they highly recommended moderation at every level.
Travellers are also strongly advised to limit their consumption of poultry meat that has undergone flagged processing. Try as much as possible to plan a balanced meal timetable whenever you travel. Travelling is meant to be enjoyable and memorable; don’t let your food consumption pattern shorten your life expectancy.
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