What Happens to Your Body When You Eat Chicken Every Day

There truly is a lot that you can do with chicken. It's a protein that works with any type of dish you want to whip up, from salads and soups to tacos and casseroles. Yet while this protein is versatile and relatively cheap for many, does eating it daily affect your body? "Chicken is a high-quality source of protein that contains all of the necessary amino acids (aka building blocks) that we need to make important proteins," says Mackenzie Burgess, RDN, a recipe developer at Cheerful Choices. She breaks down the positives and negatives of eating chicken every day, and what to keep in mind if this versatile protein makes a daily appearance on your plate.

Why We Love Chicken

It Can Help You Get All 9 Essential Amino Acids

Protein contains 20 amino acids; the body naturally produces 11 of these—the other nine need to be consumed (hence why they are called "essential"). Animal protein sources, such as chicken, are known for being complete protein sources, meaning that chicken has the perfect balance of all nine essential amino acids. "Proteins have a broad range of essential functions in our bodies, including the production of hormones and immune cells and the promotion of muscle growth."

It May Get You Closer to Your Protein Goals

Protein is an essential macronutrient in the diet to help the body repair and build new cells, such as muscle. It is recommended that adults consume between 46 and 56 grams of protein per day, or 10% to 35% of their total calories. The recommended dietary allowance for protein is generally 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight (1 pound is around 0.45 kilograms). For instance, someone who weighs 70 kg (154 pounds) would need about 56 grams of protein daily. However, this can easily vary from person to person—especially in different stages of growth and development, such as children, teenagers and during pregnancy.

Eating chicken every day is an easy way to reach those protein goals; Burgess points out that a simple 4-ounce serving of chicken provides 35 grams of lean protein. "Chicken in your meals can be a great way to meet your protein goals," she says.

It May Support a Healthy Metabolism

Chicken is a source of many B vitamins, to include niacin, thiamin, riboflavin, B-6 and folate. These nutrients are called water-soluble, which means that they are necessary in the diet each day because the body does not store them. B vitamins are essential for a healthy metabolism and to make neurotransmitters.

It May Help With Weight Loss Goals

Eating more protein can help you stay fuller for longer and this can be beneficial for your appetite. Research has shown that increasing protein in the diet may give you a slight edge when trying to lose weight. "Although needs vary for each individual, I recommend aiming for about 15 to 30 grams of protein per meal to ensure protein needs are being met," says Burgess. "Getting enough protein can also aid in satiety," and this can help with weight loss goals.

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Chicken Nutrition

Chicken is a versatile protein source and rich in nutrients such as selenium, phosphorus and niacin (vitamin B3). However, each part has a different nutritional profile. Let's look at the difference in nutrition between chicken breasts and chicken thighs.

Nutrition	Chicken Breast, 3-ounces	Chicken Thighs, 3-ounces
Calories	128	164
Carbohydrates	0 g	0 g
Dietary Fiber	0 g	0 g
Total Sugar	0 g	0 g
Added Sugar	0 g	0 g
Protein	26 g	20 g
Total Fat	3 g	9 g
Saturated Fat	1 g	2.4 g
Cholesterol	88.4 mg	109 mg
Sodium	44 mg	285 mg
Potassium	332 mg	223 mg
Vitamin B3	10 mg	5 mg
Selenium	24 mcg	20 mcg

Is Chicken Safe for Everyone?

While chicken can be a versatile and convenient protein to cook, if your diet doesn't have a diverse protein profile, you lose out on some key nutrients—including essential fats, such as omega-3s. "Eating chicken every day as your sole protein source could result in some nutrient gaps," says Burgess. "For example, since skinless chicken breast contains very little fat, consuming it every day may lead to a lack of essential fats in your diet." Burgess recommends "including a healthy source of fat along with your chicken, like cooking it in olive oil or pairing it with an avocado salad," to ensure that you're getting a good amount of healthy fats in your diet.

Other sources of protein—both animal and plant-based—provide a myriad of other nutrients in the diet, which is why it's important to aim for a variety. "I recommend consuming a variety of proteins from both animal and plant sources throughout the week," Burgess says. "Some of my favorite animal sources include salmon, shrimp, grass-fed beef, yogurt and eggs. My go-to plant protein sources are tofu, edamame, nuts, seeds and pulses. Pulses include beans, lentils and peas and are packed with important nutrients like protein, fiber, potassium and iron. This variety will give you a better diversity of nutrients in your diet. Plus, it also keeps meals fun and exciting!"

3 Ways to Enjoy Chicken

If you feel like you're constantly on the hunt for more chicken recipes, you've come to the right place. We are always working to find new ways to enjoy this classic and popular protein. Here are some of our favorite ways to cook chicken:

• Grilled: Sometimes, grilled chicken just hits the spot. Whether you marinate it, use a BBQ sauce or simply season with salt and pepper, you're in for a treat. Try it in a salad, like our Grilled Chicken Taco Salad, or get creative and grill both your protein and carb with our Herb-Grilled Chicken Frites.
• Roasted and Baked: If a Simple Roast Chicken is good enough for Ina Garten, it's good enough for us. Roasted chicken makes a beautiful and elegant dinner with little fuss, and the leftovers are perfect for a sandwich, like our Marry Me Chicken Salad Sandwich.
• Slow-Cooker: The set-it-and-forget-it slow cooker meal is one of the best ways to cook chicken to get it perfectly soft and shreddable. Use the slow cooker to get Barbecue Pulled Chicken sandwiches or our Slow-Cooker Chicken Cacciatore with Polenta.

Chicken Recipes to Try

Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad Wrap

4.9

Crispy Roast Chicken

5.0

Slow-Cooker Chicken with Potatoes, Carrots & Herb Sauce

4.0

Our Expert Take

Chicken is a substantial source of lean protein that provides all of those essential amino acids your body needs and helps you to reach the necessary protein intake you need for the day. However, if you love to eat chicken every day, keep in mind that you'll need to incorporate other sources of proteins and healthy fats in your diet to get all of those necessary nutrients you need—like mono- and polyunsaturated fats, omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, potassium, iron, calcium and more.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Is it good to eat chicken every day?

  It won't hurt you to have chicken every day, but it's more beneficial to your health to eat a variety of proteins, to include fish, lean beef, lean pork or plant-based proteins, such as soy, chickpeas or lentils.
  

• Is chicken healthy or unhealthy?

  Chicken is a healthy, high-quality protein when prepared in a way that also supports health. It's best to limit frying your chicken, but opting for baked, grilled or roasted chicken instead. Also, you can reduce the amount of saturated fat by removing the skin from the chicken.

• Is it better to eat chicken or beef?

  Both lean beef and chicken have nutrients that are important for health. You can healthfully include both lean beef and chicken in your diet each week.