To stay healthy, you need to include many nutrients in your diet. These include carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, fats, etc. Of all these nutrients, proteins keep you full for longer periods and reduce random junk food cravings. Due to this ability of proteins, they are an essential component of weight loss or healthy diet plans.
Meat is considered a primary source of protein because the amount of other fats in it is very less. The popular meats used as protein sources are chicken, fish and beef. If you’re planning to start a weight loss diet, you can easily get confused while choosing the best protein source among these. To make it easy for you, here we’ll explain the difference between these and the best option for a weight loss diet.
What’s the Difference Between Chicken, Fish and Beef Meat?
You can’t choose a protein source just by looking at its protein content; you have to consider other nutrients too. So, here is a brief difference between chicken, fish and beef meat depending upon their nutritional value:
Chicken
Chicken contains almost all the amino acids and has a very good amino acid profile. The amount of fats is very low and is limited to the skin only. By removing the skin, you can eliminate the excess fat that can cause weight gain. With these benefits, the downside of choosing chicken is its low iron content.
Beef
When compared to chicken and fish, the amount of fats in beef is higher. Consuming too many fats can increase the risk of heart disease. However, the fat content in beef also depends upon the cow’s feeding. If a cow eats grass, the fat content will be lower than the grain-fed cow’s meat.
With this downside, a benefit of choosing beef meat is its high iron content which promotes the production of haemoglobin and red blood cells.
Fish
The protein content of fish is very good, but you have to be careful regarding the fat content. It varies depending upon the type of fish. For example, fatty fish mostly have a high amount of fat, which can be a problem for your weight loss diet plan.
Consuming too much fish isn’t recommended due to high levels of toxin contamination, such as mercury. Mercury poisoning can damage your liver, immune system, kidneys and nervous system.
Chicken, Fish or Beef: Which Protein is The Best for Weight Loss and Healthy Diet?
If you want to choose the best among chicken, fish and beef, then always go for chicken. Here is why:
- It’s a better protein source than fish or beef due to its complete amino acid profile.
- It has low fat when compared to fish and beef.
- It doesn’t contain any contaminants that can harm your body.
- It contains many essential vitamins and minerals such as phosphorus, niacin, B6 and selenium, which can help you lose weight.
Bottom Line
Even though you now know the difference and the best option to choose from, chicken, fish and beef, it’s never recommended to be your own doctor. Always consult with a dietitian or doctor to get customized diet plan and the best protein source depending upon your body condition and needs!
