This week it’s turkey health benefits from Kat’s Kitchen in preparation for the holiday season starting in full swing!
Whilst often eaten during the holiday season, turkey is becoming more and more popular throughout the year.
Native to both America and Mexico the turkey was introduced to Europe when Christopher Columbus returned from the New World. Turkey is closely associated with the Thanksgiving holiday in America due to Benjamin Franklin’s affection for the meat.
Turkey is a very good source of protein, providing 65% of the daily value in one 125gram portion. It is also a very good source of selenium and Vitamin B6. Worth knowing is that most of the fat is in the skin, with the dark meat having a higher fat content than the white meat. Therefore the skinless white meat is an excellent lean source of protein, which is great to eat if you’re watching your weight.
Here are some reasons to include turkey in your diet:
Turkey Health Benefits
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- High in tryptophan which is a building block for serotonin that promotes good sleep and improves wellbeing/mood
- Contains selenium which is required for thyroid hormone metabolism, strong immune function and is thought to bring down cancer incidence.
- Great source of protein to support muscle building and repair – particularly good if you exercise a lot