The Benefits of Dark Meat (2024)

FAQs

What is dark meat good for? ›

"Dark meat makes up muscles that chickens often use, which requires extra oxygen and myoglobin, giving its red coloring," says Wheeler. Conversations center on dark meat's fat and sodium content, but it's also rich in protein. It is also high in many micronutrients like iron, zinc, phosphorus and B vitamins.

Iron and zinc, which are important for a healthy immune system, are present in much higher quantities in dark meat than in white meat. Dark meat also has higher quantities of B vitamins, like thiamine, niacin, and B12, all of which help regulate the body's metabolism.

KFC's dark meat, which is from the legs and thighs, is darker in color due to high myoglobin and contains a higher amount of fat compared to white meat. Many people believe this difference between white meat and dark meat makes the latter more flavorful.

Dark meat is an excellent source of iron, which is essential for oxygen transport, as well as zinc, which plays a crucial role in immune function and wound healing. It also contains more B vitamins, including niacin and vitamin B6, which are important for energy production and brain health.

Eating red meat (and meat in general) may contribute to inflammation because of its saturated fat content, according to a study published in Public Health Nutrition. Red meat includes more than just hamburger and steak — it's also lamb, goat and venison. Chicken and turkey are not considered red meat.

: the meat that comes from the legs and thighs of chickens, turkeys, ducks, etc.

The more myoglobin, the darker the meat and the richer the nutrients. Myoglobin provides muscles with the oxygen they need during exercise or movement.

Dark cutting beef (DCB) is largely linked with stress and the mobilisation of muscle glycogen—energy store—in the live animal prior to slaughter. In the time between slaughter and chilling, a chemical reaction known as glycolysis occurs in the muscle tissue.

A pollotarian is a semi-vegetarian who eats only poultry and cuts red meat and pork from their diet. Health benefits that may be associated with becoming a pollotarian include a lowered risk of certain cancers and type 2 diabetes. A pollotarian is someone who eats poultry but not red meat or pork products.

The Dark Meat Poultry Cuts

The dark meat is also known to be much more tender and juicier than the white meat. The two cuts of dark meat are the drumstick and the thigh, which are the first pieces to be removed when breaking a bird down into different cuts.

Are wings dark meat? ›

CHICKEN WINGS ARE TECHNICALLY WHITE MEAT

Since chickens spend much of their lives standing or walking, the muscle fibers in their legs and thighs are predominantly dark. Because they almost never fly and only in short bursts, the muscle fibers in their wings and breast are mostly white.

Whether one tastes better comes down to preference. Dark meat typically has a fattier, juicier taste than white meat, which can mean more flavor. White meat dries out faster than dark meat, leading to a milder taste. Whether juicy meat tastes better than dryer meat, is up to your personal preference but we serve both.

Dark meat tends to be higher in fat and, therefore, calories, and moderately lower in protein.

Lack of enough iron in your diet will trigger your body to crave iron-rich foods such as red meat to replenish.

A chicken has white wing meat and dark leg meat, and humans are much the same in having dark leg muscles and white arm muscles. These differences in color are due to the use of and demands on the limbs. Dark muscle is specialized for endurance and its color comes from a rich blood supply and high myoglobin content.

Whether one tastes better comes down to preference. Dark meat typically has a fattier, juicier taste than white meat, which can mean more flavor. White meat dries out faster than dark meat, leading to a milder taste. Whether juicy meat tastes better than dryer meat, is up to your personal preference but we serve both.

Leafy greens get all the antioxidant glory, but black-colored foods can also be loaded with health-promoting compounds. Research suggests that anthocyanins (pigments abundant in black, blue, and purple whole foods) may help lower your risk of heart disease and certain types of cancer—and make your skin glow.

Meats that fall under this category include chicken, turkey, goose, and duck. Poultry, especially white meat like breasts and wings, is a good source of lean protein. Poultry is also a source of vitamins like niacin, vitamin A, and magnesium. These are the leanest meats of the land animals.

Chicken and cows store fat differently, and in different parts of their bodies. For instance, chickens store fat primarily under the skin, and chicken thighs are higher in fat and cholesterol than breast meat.