Everybody knows that lean protein is the best way to improve your diet and boost your muscularity. People who eat more protein and less junk tend to be healthier overall and have the energy to get through the day. Fortunately, chicken is one of the best ingredients for anybody looking to go on a health kick. It’s why people who love fitness are obsessed with it.
Chicken should never taste boring, though. Understanding why chicken is so good for you and mastering some foundational techniques can help you incorporate it into your daily life.
The health benefits of chicken
The health benefits of chicken go beyond just building muscle. Chicken is a high-quality, lean protein that is low in saturated fat and calories. Because of this, it’s highly efficient for building muscle and helping the body adapt to exercise. It also provides sustained fullness in the form of satiety. Chicken releases hormones that signal fullness to the brain, making you less likely to reach for the cookie jar.
When you get home after a long day at work, there’s also metabolic support provided by chicken. Protein has a greater thermic effect than carbs or fat, meaning your body actually burns energy just digesting it.
Golden rules for flavorful chicken
Chicken, of course, isn’t automatically flavorful. If you just eat a boiled chicken breast, you probably won’t enjoy it all that much. Fortunately, there are all sorts of ways you can make chicken more flavorful. One of the best ways is to use citrus fruits: lemon, lime, or even orange are great with chicken, especially when slightly sweetened.
You can also try chicken rub seasoning. Look for products that contain herbs and spices like:
- Cilantro
- Oregano
- Thyme
- Rosemary
- Warm spices
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
- Cumin
- Smoked paprika
- Chilli powder
When you cook your chicken, make sure you use the right method.
- Baking and roasting are the default for many people and are great if you want a hands-off approach. All you do is put your chicken in the oven, set the temperature to 400°F, and let it cook according to weight. Sometimes you might want to rub it with olive oil or some of your favourite spices.
- Grilling can add a depth and smoky flavour to the meat. You don’t need to add any additional fat, so it’s great for anybody looking to lose weight.
- Poaching or shredding are other options, but you need to be careful with these. If you poach chicken, make sure you do it in a nice soup with plenty of other vegetables in it.
Protect the texture of your chicken by making sure that you don’t overcook it. Lean chicken doesn’t have much fat, so it dries out very quickly. That’s one of the reasons why so many people have problems trying to cook chicken. Keep a digital thermometer close by and stop cooking the meat when its internal temperature goes above 165°F.
Once you have your chicken perfectly cooked, make sure that the rest of your plate is filled with healthy, colourful, non-starchy vegetables.
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