To help raise awareness about diabetes during Diabetes Awareness Month, we speak to dieticians from the Centre for Diabetes and Endocrinology (CDE) team, who help explain the benefits that come with switching your eating habits to include more white meats.

It promotes good heart health

When it comes to promoting good heart health, chicken is more heart-friendly. The reason for this is that chicken has a lower amount of saturated fats, making it a leaner protein choice. According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa, 80% of heart diseases that affect South Africans are preventable. Making this small change to your food choices can go a long way when it comes to promoting the health of your heart.

It’s a leaner source of protein

Chicken has proven itself to be a leaner protein option compared to beef. A skinless chicken breast that weighs 130 g only contains 143 calories and 1.6 g of fat. It has a lower content of saturated fats compared to salmon or sirloin steak. Furthermore, chicken provides you with the 0.8 mg Vitamin B6 and 20.5 mg Niacin (vitamin B3) which helps maintain healthy skin, digestion and the absorption of food. 

It is versatile

It's hard to strike out on ideas in terms of what you can do with chicken. When it comes to looking for a healthier alternative, that can be mixed with any meal, it comes in handy. You can opt to boil or grill it in the form of drumsticks, breasts, kebabs, or shredded into a delicious wrap. Just remember to remove the skin.

Striking a balance with red meat

Red meat is not completely bad, it all depends on the type you choose along with the portion size, and how often you eat it. To keep your heart healthy, it is recommended to reduce your red meat intake to 300 g a week. The recommended 300 g of red meat a week means that you should only be eating two portions of red meat a week, the size of the palm of your hand.