The Health Benefits of Eating Chicken Gizzard

Gizzards are good for your health.

Gizzards are high in protein and contain less than one gram of fat per serving, making them a good choice for dieters. chicken gizzards frozen

Have you ever tried sour cream-braised chicken gizzards, curry gizzards, or pickled gizzards? You're missing out on important nutrients that promote health and well-being if you don't. A small muscular organ found in the digestive tract of some birds and fish, the gizzard is also known as the gigerium or ventriculus. Chicken and turkey gizzards, like other organ meats, are high in protein and delicious when properly prepared.

What Do Gizzards Do?

You'll find the word gizzard mentioned on health and nutrition blogs if you search for "chicken intestine benefits" or "organ meat benefits" on the internet. This term refers to a small muscle in birds that aids in the digestion of seeds and other foods. It's a part of the bird's stomach that aids in the digestion of food. Ducks, lambs, chickens, and turkeys all have gizzards.

South Africa, Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, and other parts of the world consider poultry and turkey gizzards delicacies. They're used in a variety of dishes, including soups, stews, and homemade snacks, along with chicken liver, hearts, and kidneys. You can cook them in a variety of ways, including frying, steaming, sautéing, grilling, and baking, as well as skewering them and adding them to gravies and sauces.

Nutritional Value of Gizzard

Gizzards are among the healthiest and most nutritious organ meats, which may come as a surprise. They're high in protein and low in fat, making them perfect for dieters. However, the nutritional value of these vegetables is determined by how they are prepared. A 3.5-ounce serving of chicken gizzards contains the following nutrients:

1. Calories: 94
2. Protein content: 17.7 g
3. 2.1-gram fat content
4. 18% of the daily value (DV) for zinc
5. 14% of the daily value for iron
6. Selenium is found in 36 percent of the DV.
7. 15% of the daily value for phosphorus
8. 7% of the daily value for potassium
9. Vitamin B12 is 20% of the daily value (DV).
10. 18% of the daily value for niacin

Vitamin C, riboflavin, magnesium, copper, and manganese are all abundant in gizzards. They're also carb-free and under 100 calories per serving. Cooked gizzards have 154 calories, 30 grams of protein, 2.7 grams of fat, and higher levels of selenium, zinc, iron, and calcium. The calories will add up if you cook them in oil or butter.

Chicken liver, on the other hand, has a slightly higher fat content but contains more nutrients. 167 calories, 6.5 grams of fat, and 24.5 grams of protein are found in a 3.5-ounce cooked serving. It contains 267 percent of the daily recommended vitamin A intake, nearly half of the daily recommended vitamin C intake, and significant amounts of selenium, copper, and iron. It also contains 281 percent of the daily recommended vitamin B12 intake.

Are Gizzards Actually Beneficial?

Gizzards are high in protein and minerals and can be a nutritious addition to most diets. According to a 2016 meta-analysis published in Scientific Reports, selenium may protect against breast, bladder, lung, prostate, and skin cancer. Thyroid hormone production is aided by this mineral, which also protects against oxidative stress and promotes reproductive health.

Look no further if you're trying to lose weight. Gizzards help you burn more calories throughout the day because of their high protein content. The results of five studies published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics in 2016 showed that high-protein diets increase fullness. This nutrient may also assist in the prevention of obesity and the reduction of visceral fat.

Vitamin B12, which is found in gizzards, is important for brain function and the production of red blood cells. Vitamin B12 deficiency is more common in vegans, seniors, and people with anemia or gastrointestinal disorders, according to the National Institutes of Health. It can lead to memory problems, dementia, depression, and fatigue if left untreated. This nutrient is especially abundant in organ meats.

Get Leaner and Gain Muscle

Chicken and turkey breast, lean beef, dairy, and eggs are commonly associated with protein. Organ meats are frequently underappreciated. Cooked gizzards provide 61 percent of the daily recommended protein intake, making it easier to maintain a healthy weight. Increased protein intake can help athletes achieve better satiety and reduce muscle loss, according to a 2018 review published in the journal Nutrients.

You don't have to be an athlete, however, to reap the benefits. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein, which are required for muscle growth and repair. Just a few examples include leucine, valine, arginine, glycine, alanine, and isoleucine. It also aids in the preservation of lean mass while dieting, which in turn aids in the maintenance of a healthy metabolism.

Natural Ways to Boost Your Energy

Iron deficiency could be the cause of your tiredness and exhaustion. This mineral promotes cellular health, strengthens the immune system, and aids in the delivery of oxygen to your muscles. Anemia, which causes weakness and fatigue, brittle nails, headaches, arrhythmia, poor mental focus, chest pain, and irregular heartbeat, among other symptoms, can be caused by a low-iron diet.

Gizzards provide 18% of the recommended daily iron intake in one serving, making it easier to include this mineral in your diet. It's also high in zinc, magnesium, B-complex vitamins, and other nutrients that keep your body running smoothly. Anemia and fatigue may result from low vitamin B12 levels, for example. To avoid nutrient deficiencies and regain energy, increase your consumption of organ meats.

Are There Any Potential Risks?

There have been few studies on gizzards in particular. Some organ meats are high in saturated fat, according to Medical News Today. If your cholesterol levels are higher than normal, limit your intake of these foods. Gizzards, on the other hand, have less than one gram of saturated fat per serving, so they won't raise blood cholesterol or harm your heart.

Organ meats, according to the researchers, contain purines and should be avoided by gout sufferers. Gout attacks can be triggered by these organic compounds, which raise uric acid levels.

Consider switching to organic brands if you think you're eating too much chicken, including gizzards. Antibiotics are frequently used by farmers to keep chickens healthy. According to The Guardian, a diet high in poultry may promote the development of drug-resistant bacteria, which kill over 700,000 people worldwide each year. Going organic is the only way to avoid these dangers.