Turkey meat: useful and harmful properties, composition, calorie content

The benefits of turkey meat are many. Nutritionists value it for its nutritional value - it is lean meat with many vitamins and minerals in its composition. Chefs appreciate a turkey because it can be used to prepare a wide variety of dishes.

The composition and calorie content of meat

Turkey meat is a very tender type of meat, has a pinkish tint (darker than chicken meat), the main part is white or reddish. The color of the turkey determines the type of bird. The composition is almost completely free of fat. Turkey meat is considered hypoallergenic, although in rare cases, the protein that is part of it can cause allergies.

Composition per 100 g:
  • proteins (19.5 g);
  • fats (22 g);
  • water (57.6 g).
In addition, this meat contains many important trace elements and B vitamins, in particular B12, folic acid and niacin. The turkey also contains potassium, iodine, zinc, iron, magnesium, phosphorus.

Calorie content - 189 kcal per 100 g. Due to such a low calorie content, meat is considered dietary.

We recommend finding out what is useful and how to cook rabbit and chicken meat.

The effect of turkey on the human body

Any meat is a controversial product regarding its benefits, but indispensable in human nutrition. Turkey meat has its pros and cons for the human body. The turkey can’t do much harm to him.

Benefit

Due to the presence of a large number of minerals and vitamins in this type of meat, it has more useful properties than chicken. Its advantages are as follows:

  1. Strengthens male power.
  2. It is useful for pregnant and lactating women, as it strengthens the immunity of the child.
  3. It promotes healthy growth due to vitamin A in the composition, which is very useful for children.
  4. Increases the level of hemoglobin in the blood due to the content of vitamin E.
  5. Improves the endocrine system due to iodine.
  6. Strengthens bones.
  7. Useful for the nervous system.

Harm

The bad consequences of eating it can occur in rare cases:

  1. If the meat was stale or was stored in the wrong conditions, it can cause food poisoning.
  2. With individual intolerance to meat protein, an allergy can occur.
  3. May not be absorbed by the child's body when feeding infants up to 6 months.
Important! It is strictly forbidden to feed newborn children with turkey poultry.

Contraindications

The idea is considered a dietary type of meat and is easily digested, therefore it has few contraindications:

  1. Individual intolerance.
  2. Diseases of the genitourinary system.
  3. Gout.
  4. Renal failure.

Daily intake

Since turkey meat mainly consists of proteins, its norm is calculated on the basis of the daily protein norm for humans.

For men, it is 120–140 g of meat, for women - 100–120 g, for children from 1 year old - about 60–80 g. In terms of pure protein: 50 g for men, 40 g for women and 25 g for children respectively.

Did you know? In adulthood, a female turkey has about 3, 500 feathers.

Rules for the selection and storage of turkeys

To choose a tasty, fresh and high-quality turkey, you need to familiarize yourself with some of the selection rules and follow them when buying.

Good turkey:
  • has an elastic structure (when you click on it with your finger it quickly takes its previous shape);
  • fleshy;
  • does not have fatty layers;
  • the skin color should be pale pink;
  • has no spots on the carcass;
  • must be free of mechanical damage .
Important! Bluish color of meat is not allowed. Store the product in a refrigerator or freezer. In the first case, the carcass can lie no more than two days. When frozen, it can be stored for up to 60 days, provided that it will not thaw and freeze again.

Video: How to choose and store a turkey

Cooking Tips

Depending on the method of preparation of turkey, it can be dietary or high-calorie. In the first case, it is better to boil, stew or bake without adding oil. To make a turkey dish as tasty as possible, you must follow these recommendations:

  • Before baking, it is better to marinate the meat in lemon juice or in your favorite sauce;
  • use seasonings for poultry, such as dried celery, turmeric, paprika;
  • it is better to cook turkey meat immediately after purchase.
Turkey meat is an excellent solution for both those who monitor their nutrition, and for those who like to eat delicious food. A correctly selected and well-cooked turkey will not leave indifferent any bird lover.

Video: How to bake a turkey in the oven

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