Health Benefits of Turkey (2024)

Turkey is a popular source of meat in the United States. In 2019 alone, people in the U.S. ate 5.3 billion pounds of turkey. That works out to about 16.1 pounds per person.

It’s also twice as much as people ate just 50 years ago. Since then, scientists have learned a lot about the many good things that turkey can do for your health.

Turkey packs a powerful nutritional punch and it’s healthier overall than red meat. Many people choose it as a replacement for beef in recipes.

Health Benefits

Turkey is a great source of protein. The body uses protein to build and repair bones, muscles, cartilage, skin, blood, and tissue. Protein is a macronutrient, which means that your body needs a lot of it. Your body can’t store protein, so you need to consume it every day.

As long as you don’t eat too much turkey, it is a healthy way to get the protein you need. It's also a good source of beneficial vitamins and minerals like magnesium and niacin.

Reduced Cancer Risk

Turkey is also an excellent source of selenium. Some studies have shown that a diet rich in the mineral may help to prevent certain kinds of cancer, including:

  • Bladder cancer
  • Breast cancer
  • Lung cancer
  • Stomach cancer

Scientists have only seen the protective effects of selenium when it’s present in the food you eat. Taking supplements doesn’t appear to have the same effect. To learn more, scientists need to do further research.

Diabetes Management

Turkey is a low glycemic index (GI) food. That means it won’t cause the blood sugar spike that you’d get from more sugar-rich and carb-rich foods. If you have diabetes, including turkey in your diet can help you to keep your blood sugar under control.

Heart Health

Low GI foods like turkey can also help increase levels of “good” HDL cholesterol in your body. HDL cholesterol travels through the bloodstream and helps to remove “bad” LDL cholesterol. LDL cholesterol can damage the walls of your arteries and increase your risk of heart attack and stroke. By eating foods like turkey that boost your HDL cholesterol, you can increase your resistance to these diseases.

Protection From Cognitive Decline

Turkey and other kinds of poultry are part of the MIND diet. Scientists created the MIND diet to slow the mental decline associated with Alzheimer’s disease and other causes of dementia. By eating poultry products like turkey at least twice a week as part of the MIND diet, older adults may preserve their memory and thinking skills.

Nutrition

Turkey is rich in many vitamins and minerals, such as:

Nutrients per Serving

A single three-ounce serving (about the size of a deck of cards) of roasted turkey without the skin contains:

Portion Sizes

Turkey is healthy white meat overall, but all meats contain fat. One 3-ounce serving of turkey contains one gram of saturated fat. That’s 6% of your recommended daily intake. To keep your fat intake from turkey at manageable levels, limit your portion size to the recommended single serving.

Additionally, turkey contains significant amounts of tryptophan —an amino acid. A low tryptophan diet is recommended for people with psoriasis.

How to Prepare Turkey

Choosing light meat without the skin is the healthiest way to eat turkey.

It’s also important to choose fresh over processed turkey. One cup of light meat turkey already contains more than 18% of your daily recommended dose of sodium. Processed turkey can have more than 35% of that recommended dose.

The best way to minimize the fat and salt in your turkey is to buy a fresh turkey breast and cook it at home. Avoid frying. Instead, opt to roast your turkey breast in the oven. Serve it with a side of your favorite vegetables or experiment with some of the many turkey breast recipes you can find online.

Here are a few turkey recipe ideas to get you started:

  • Turkey and cheese quesadillas
  • Turkey soup with brown rice
  • Turkey Caesar salad
  • Turkey pot pie
  • Turkey and cranberry sauce sandwich
  • Turkey chili
Health Benefits of Turkey (2024)

FAQs

Does turkey have health benefits? ›

Turkey is rich in amino acids such as tryptophan and glutamine, both of which are important for joint health and mobility. Regularly eating turkey can help support joint flexibility while reducing aches and pains associated with arthritis or other joint conditions over time.

Is turkey ok to eat daily? ›

Protein is a macronutrient, which means that your body needs a lot of it. Your body can't store protein, so you need to consume it every day. As long as you don't eat too much turkey, it is a healthy way to get the protein you need. It's also a good source of beneficial vitamins and minerals like magnesium and niacin.

Is turkey a superfood? ›

Turkey is a popular meat that boasts high-quality protein, B vitamins, selenium, zinc, and phosphorus. It may support various aspects of health, including muscle growth and maintenance, due to its rich supply of nutrients. However, it's best to avoid processed varieties, as these are high in salt.

Are turkey products healthier? ›

Lean options — like turkey — are always a healthier choice than red meats. Numerous studies have shown a significant connection between the amount of red meat you eat and specific health conditions, including: Type II diabetes. Heart disease.

Is turkey really healthier than chicken? ›

Both turkey and chicken provide the same amount of protein per serving and offer a rich protein source. Turkey has fewer calories due to the low-fat content. This makes turkey a good option for people monitoring their calorie and fat intake closely.

Does turkey have good medical? ›

Turkey's healthcare is on the same level as in the US, but the prices are usually lower. The Türkiye healthcare system is effective: the life expectancy in the country is 78 years, same as in the US.

Which is healthier, turkey or salmon? ›

Here's what they said, listed from healthiest to least healthy: Fish/seafood/shellfish: Wild Alaskan salmon, oysters and sardines are highest in healthy fats; white fish such as cod or flounder tend to be leaner. Turkey: White meat has slightly less saturated fat than dark.

Is turkey good for skin? ›

Turkey is, in fact, an excellent source of necessary nutrients for healthy skin. The remarkable thing about turkey is its high concentration of good proteins and zinc. Zinc is responsible for maintaining our body's natural collagen and elastin fibers which preserve skin firmness and elasticity.

Is turkey food sufficient? ›

While our country used to be self-sufficient in the 1980s, we seem to have focused relatively less in food security in the last couple of years. According to the 2017 Global Food Security Index, Turkey only ranks 49th in the overall scoring.

Does turkey build muscle? ›

Turkey is rich in protein. One 4-ounce (oz) serving of turkey breast provides approximately 27 grams (g) of protein and all nine essential amino acids needed for muscle growth. 3 Adding turkey to a well-balanced diet may be especially beneficial for those trying to lose weight or increase their lean muscle mass.

What is the healthiest meat? ›

Healthiest: Skinless Turkey Meat

An excellent source of niacin and vitamin B6, skinless turkey, is one of the best lean proteins to add to your meals. The nutrients found in skinless turkey meat can help support heart health, energy levels, brain function, digestion, and other bodily processes.

Can I eat turkey every day? ›

When it comes to turkey, however, gaining a few extra pounds isn't the only concern; with a high fat content, poultry appears to promote diabetes and the development of pancreatic cancer more than other animal products, potentially raising one's risk of pancreatic cancer by 72% for every 50g increase in daily poultry ...

Is turkey better than beef? ›

Turkey is generally lower in saturated fat than beef. As such, it may be a better choice for heart health. Fat-free turkey is also the lowest calorie option if you're interested in weight loss. However, if your main goal is flavor, ground beef may outshine turkey in some dishes.

Is turkey high in iron? ›

Turkey meat is a healthy and delicious food. It's also a good source of iron, especially dark turkey meat. A 3.5-ounce (100-gram) portion of dark turkey meat has 1.4 mg of iron, which is 8% of the DV ( 37 ). In comparison, the same amount of white turkey meat contains only 0.7 mg ( 38 ).

Is turkey a healthy country? ›

In terms of health, life expectancy at birth in Türkiye is around 79 years, two years lower than the OECD average of 81 years. Life expectancy for women is 81 years, compared with 76 for men.

Do people get benefits in turkey? ›

In order to benefit from the Turkish Social Security System, residents in Turkey must enrol with the Turkish Social Security Fund (Sosyal Guvenlik Kurumu - SGK). It is possible to access free or low-cost healthcare, although the standard varies considerably from region to region.

Do Turkish people eat healthy? ›

With a focus on fresh ingredients and flavorful spices, Turkish Cuisine is not only delicious, but as part of what many experts refer to as the “Mediterranean Diet”, is considered one of the healthiest diets in the world.

Which part of turkey is healthy? ›

All turkey is a healthy choice, but you'll be happy to know that dark turkey meat is lean, with just 8 grams of fat per a 100-gram serving. And, dark meat is especially rich in iron, selenium and zinc. Dark meat lovers rejoice! As for those who love the white meat, it's considered a low fat choice.

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