Category Archives: Poultry Meat And Egg

Nutritional value of duck meat for human health

Ducks are known to be the members of the Anatidae Family of Birds which are mostly consumed for their meat worldwide. Moreover, they are also brought to use in terms of a number of cuisines. In comparison to chickens as well as turkeys, the poultry duck meat happens to be darker in color, but still it is classified among the white meat birds. The meat from the duck is mostly derived from the regions of the legs and breast. Moreover, the liver and the heart of the duck are also considered to be suited for edible purposes. In terms of the taste, the duck meat is really rich, especially in terms of the nutrients it contains.

Duck Meat Nutrition Facts

The nutriment value of the duck food is really surprising. The meat encapsulates a number of important nutrients and minerals including phosphorous, magnesium, calcium, potassium and sodium. In terms of the vitamins, it contains niacin, folate, Vitamin E, K and B together with a number of other nutriments. At the same time, the duck is also considered to be a rich source in terms of its protein value.

nutrition facts of duck meat
image via:quitehealthy.com

Health Benefits and Merits of Duck Meat

 

Protein in Duck Meat

The role of the proteins in terms of being used for the innate physiological mechanisms of the human body can never be denied. In addition to helping in the formation of the bodily cells and tissues, proteins are also required for the functioning of the hormones. They are also responsible for carrying out the repairs of the damaged cells and tissues. 55 % of the daily recommended value of the proteins can be fulfilled by consuming about 55 grams of duck meat.

Selenium

When it comes to the trace minerals which our bodies require, then selenium happens to be in the lead. Small levels of trace minerals and nutriments are required by the body on a regular basis. Furthermore, selenium also comes to facilitate the functioning of a number of enzymes, having different roles to play in the human body. Alongside the vitamins, selenium also comes in handy for the protection of the various cells in the human body from the free radicals. Larger levels of these compounds might notch up the chances of various heart diseases as well as cancer. A 100 grams serving is sufficient in terms of providing 43 % of the daily recommended value of selenium.

Role of Niacin

The role of niacin can be termed to be of having a magical nature. As mentioned above, the duck meat contains a number of minerals and important nutriments all of which have a number of benefits for the human body. Duck meat has the potential to provide nearly half of the optimal value for the daily usage. Low levels of this nutriment can result in a number of bodily issues and problems which are not easy to tackle if not dealt in time. Moreover, it is also believed to be helpful in terms of lowering down the levels of cholesterol in the body, due to which the people who suffer from obesity and cholesterol issues should be vigilant in terms of making use of the duck meat. That’s not all, as Niacin has also been proved to be facilitating in terms of metabolizing the fats in the body and in reducing the chances of the deposition of the fat. So, now you know why duck meat is optimal for being used in comparison to the fatty meat.

source of niacin

Iron

Ducks can be termed to be a source of healthy meat. Iron is needed by a number of different parts in the body. It is also crucial in terms of pacifying a number of processes of metabolism. At the same time, it is also conducive in terms of production of the red blood cells and is also helpful in sending oxygen and other required nutrients to all regions of the body.

Vitamins

In addition to helping the eyes and oral mucosom, the duck meat is also handy in terms of notching down the attacks from the side of the viruses. Duck meat also encapsulates 3 to 10 times more Vitamin A in comparison to all other meat forms. At the same time, the lack of Vitamin B1 in the body can result in the loss of appetite, insomnia and persistent fatigue. It also comes to effectuate the mood. On the other hand, Vitamin B2 helps in keeping the skin, hair as well as finger nails healthy. All of these vitamins are guaranteed by the use of duck meat.

Never Underestimate the Vitamin B6

Duck meat is quite abundant in terms of the vitamin B6. It comes in handy in breaking down the proteins and other related nutrients. It is important for the prevention of a number of diseases and in the generation of the antibodies. The calories in duck meat also happen to be lower.

Unsaturated fatty acids

The unsaturated fatty acids perform the function of anti-oxidation and in terms of lowering down the levels of cholesterol. It might also influence the intelligence of children. The unsaturated fatty acids have also been shown to cause a number of heart related diseases and issues. In all, it is best to make use of duck meat for turning down the chances of all these effectuations. As a recommendation, you should prefer to make use of the duck meat in moderate levels and not too much.

Boosting the Immune System

Duck meat is excellent in terms of inducing a boom in the functioning of the immune system. The reason for this can be linked to the various vitamins, minerals and other related nutriments which have what it takes to prepare the body for the effectuations of a number of diseases. Zinc is another component which cannot be undermined in terms of the various benefits it guarantees for the human body. In lines to all these merits, it can be said that the duck meat and poultry food should be consumed by all those who prefer to prepare their body for combating a number of diseases in advance and for notching down the chances of fat deposition.

immune system

Duck meat is rich in fat, calories and cholesterol but it is better to consume it in moderation levels as a luxury food.

Poultry Meat and Health

Poultry is used in relation to the meat consumption of the domesticated animals. Since the past few years, the scopes for the sales of the poultry products have been notched. It is all in lines to the rise in the demand of the poultry meat and eggs. At the same time, the health benefits of poultry are also numerous due to which more and more people are turning towards the usage of these products in order to meet their daily protein consumption needs. So it can be said that the health benefits of poultry are much more than most us can consciously imagine.

The Cuts of Poultry Meat

White meat, which is more commonly referred to as white poultry is quite healthier in comparison to the usage of dark meat. Moreover, the white meat has also been proved to be facilitating for health, as it contains a corroborated presence of some of the most crucial nutriments.  A number of scientific researches made in the domain of poultry nutrition and consumption also assert the same about the use of the white poultry. On the other hand, the dark meat is mainly found on those body parts that contain the most used muscles. That’s not all, as the dark meat has also been shown to have more fat. So, it can be said that dark meat should be consumed on a moderate basis.

cuts of poultry meat

Healthy Poultry Meat

The white meat is the top recommendation for all those who plan to lose some weight. The idea here is to make use of the cuts of the poultry meat. In order to eat these skinless cuts of the poultry meat, you should prefer to cook or grill them before usage. Now on other hand, when you make use of the fried poultry, the only thing you are consuming is a diet which is very high in terms of the fats and calories.

Grilled herbed chicken breasts

Health Benefits of Poultry Meat

The vitamins and minerals which are offered by the poultry products include vitamin B, pyridoxine, Vitamin E, thiamin, magnesium and iron. The consumption of protein in moderate amounts on a daily basis, ensures that your bones remain strong and excelling at all times. Furthermore, the proteins are also crucial for the creation of a number of hormones and enzymes, all of which come in handy in terms of our physiological mechanisms and processes.

Recommended Consumption

The concerned departments and bodies in the US recommend that people should make use of around 6 to 9 oz of the proteins diets and cuts. They also recommend that uncooked meat should never be consumed. It is also asserted that while baking or cooking the meat, the temperature should be kept at the level of 180 degree F. The manufacturing companies should also make all conducive and possible arrangements for the poultry health.

Turkey Meat Facts

One of the most noticeable fact about the turkey meat is that it is quite low in fat and higher in terms of the protein presence. Moreover, it is also a relatively inexpensive source of iron and the required vitamins, all of which are crucial for the human growth. This is the reason for which the turkeys are being raised on a large scale all over the world.

turkey meat

Basic Nutritional Facts of Chicken meat and Eggs

Chicken happens to be the kind of poultry which is high in terms of the nutriments and all other minerals it comes to offer. In terms of the fat levels, the skinless white chicken food is the one which is best suited for those who love to exercise a control on the fats they consume. Surely, human health is best determined in terms of the minerals, vitamins and all other useful nutrients that are available in a certain poultry products. Below are some of the most useful nutrition facts about chicken meat.

Nutrients in chicken

Proteins

Just like the fish, beef and other meaty products, chicken is also rich in terms of the essential proteins. For each ounce of the meat that is offered, 7 grams of proteins is present. In terms of the typical portions that might be consumed, the protein supply falls around 28 grams. In short, the chicken is an all in one protein based product which can comply with all your health related needs. In addition to honing the performance of all the bodily muscles, the proteins in chicken meat is also crucial for the growth of the tissues. The protein in eggs is also one of the reason for which people prefer to use the poultry based eggs.

protein in chicken

Calories, Carbohydrates and all Other Fats in Chicken

For those who pay a great deal of heed to the levels of carbohydrates they consume, Let me tell you that chicken meat happens to be free from them. According to the most recent nutrition data, the skinless chicken diet ensures that the least amount of fat and calories are allowed to enter into your body. On the other hand, the dark meat is marked for having some higher substantial levels of fat, which can really cause a number of physiological issues. To be precise, if you consume 86 grams of dark meat, then conversely you would be absorbing 165 calories together with 8 grams of fat. Not to forget the 2 grams of saturated fats that you would be consuming.

carbohydrates in chicken

Vitamins in chicken meat

Chicken can be termed to be a prime source of two classes of vitamins i.e. Vitamin B3 and B6. In terms of the recommended daily value of the vitamins, a 4 ounce portion can do it all for you. The Vitamin B3, also known as Niacin, also comes to facilitate the release of the energy from the consumed carbohydrates. At the same time, it also comes in handy in elevating the formation of the RBCS or red blood cells. The role of the niacin based nutriments for the protein metabolic processes can also never be undermined. Making use of the poultry food is definitely worth your health.

Minerals

The 2 prime source minerals, phosphorous and selenium can easily be utilized by making use of a 4 ounce portion of chicken meat. Both of them come to meet nearly 16 and 30 % of the daily optimal or recommended value. The role of the phosphorous involves facilitating the durability and growth of the bones and in strengthening the cell membranes. Moreover, it is also useful in activating the b vitamins which the body requires. In addition to regulating the activity of the thyroid hormone, selenium is also crucial for the performance of the immune system.

Nutrition Facts about Eggs

The eggs happen to be a core substitute to the meat based products. They are not only low in the calorie composition, but are also desired for other basic needs. There are numerous minerals in eggs for which they are widely consumed all over the world. It is one of those versatile foods that were once shunned for the high levels of cholesterol, are now considered to be an integral component of any healthy diet for the individual.

Nutrition Facts about Eggs

Basic Nutriment Values

In terms of the nutrient values, one egg contains around 1 oz proteins for red meat. As specified by the US Department of Agriculture, 1 large egg helps in providing 75 calories, 5 grams of fat, 6 grams of proteins, 63 mg of sodium and around 213 milligrams of cholesterol. Moreover, the eggs also happen to be high in terms of the B2 vitamins which they offer. At the same time, the egg yolks have also been proved to be rich in terms of having the presence of 2 antioxidants including zeaxanthin and lutein. Eggs are also considered to be an efficient source of trace minerals including selenium, iodine and molybdenum.

nutrient value of egg

15 uses for Egg Shell-Don’t throw away Egg Shells after having your Breakfast

It is a common perception among us that we think of egg shells nothing but the waste. This perception is completely wrong. A person should know how these shells could be utilized efficiently so as to make the most out of these shells. There are numerous benefits of egg shell. So, don’t throw away those egg shells after taking your breakfast. Below are some of the uses of egg shells.

Help To clear out your drains

You don’t need to use costly, strong and poisonous chemicals to clear out your drains now. Egg shells are great for this work. They work without damaging your hands, sinks, pipes and drains. The procedure is just crushing the shells and then put them in your sink basket. When the water will run, each time egg shells will move along with water into pipes and reach your drains. Egg shells perform as a secure cleanser to remove grease and any other accumulated dirt.

Egg Shells for the Garden

Egg shells are not only useful to clear out your drain but there are important uses of egg shells for the garden as well. Use some of the crushed egg shell and then put them to the bottom of the holes of plants, particularly for the plants of tomatoes, eggplant and peppers. These plants are liable to flourish and also if there is any decay in the plants, it also stops as calcium deficiency is the reason of this decaying and rotting that is being fulfilled by the egg shells.

egg shell for plants

Deter the pests

Using crushed egg shells can help in removing garden pests for example snails and cutworms etc. These pests are really troublesome because they attack at the roots of the seedlings. So the best thing to do is to put egg shell in soil, especially near the roots of the plant which will help in providing prevention from such pests.

egg shell for pest cotrol

 Feeding the birds

As egg shells are a very good source of calcium and proteins, it is also advisable to feed egg shells to chickens, especially to female birds that are ready to lay eggs or have finished laying eggs. Since they need additional calcium so it will work a lot.

Deter the animals

Scatter crushed egg shells all over your gardens to keep the animals like cats from damaging it. These shells akin to the broken glass and will irritate animals’ smooth paws.

Removes Tea Stains

Place the ground egg shell into thermos or the tea pot that is stained with the tea. Leave it for whole night, then next day rinse it with water. The stains will immediately be removed. It does this job very well and leaves no bad odors like cleaning agents and bleaching etc.

 Fertilizer

Since egg shells are filled with calcium and many other mineral deposits, therefore they work greatly as fertilizer for the gardens. And can help in growing of plants more quickly.

egg shell for composting

 Smoother Coffee

When crushed egg shells are added to the coffee, it helps in reducing the level of acidity in it and makes coffee more enjoyable.

egg shell in cofee

 For Artistic work

Egg shells can be used for artistic purposes as well. From egg shells you can design beautiful carvings. Similarly you can draw the paintings on egg shells for decorations.

egg shell for artistic work

 For Skin treatment

Dried and crushed raw egg shells help to restore a young-look and shine of your skin, mix the egg shell powder with egg white and rub it onto your face. Wash it when it dries.

egg shell for skin

 

 For starting seedlings

They are excellent to start seedlings. It not only works as the great pot but the calcium carbonate in the shell gives the growing plant additional minerals and nutrition. Crack the shell at the bottom to remove it when the seedlings are big enough for planting in the garden.

Egg shells as Seed Pots

You don’t need to buy some special pots to begin your seeds at home. All you have to do is just fill up half of the egg shell with fertilized soil, and add seed in it. Egg cartons would work best for this purpose.

egg shell for plants

 

 Egg shells as Household Abrasive

Egg shells can also act like a stain cleaning agent. All you have to do is use some crushed egg shells and add some soapy water to it and clean your vases or thermoses. These egg shells also acts as nontoxic abrasive and can be helpful in cleaning pots and pans.

Membrane Home Remedies

The extremely thin membrane that is present inside the egg shell can also be used for healing of any cuts and treatment of ingrown toenails. This is a best home remedy element found in egg shells.

egg shell for healing

Egg shells – fuel for future

Researchers at Ohio State University have discovered that beside all these uses, egg shells can also be used as hydrogen fuel that will be easily affordable and will help in overcoming the shortage of fuel and its increasing prices.

 

 

little homesteading on the hill

An insight of mechanically deboned chicken

Everyone who is directly or indirectly linked to the food business would have listened the term “mechanically deboned chicken” or “mechanically recovered/reclaimed meat”. It is rather a common term in cuisine. With the modernization and adaptation of new means and ways to make our work easier, each and every field has been evolved; whether it is the food, the sanitary or the major tech areas.

What is meant by mechanically deboned chicken?

If you are not aware of what actually is mechanically deboned chicken, then this article is the right choice as it would focus and highlight not only the meaning but also the nutrition value, safety and the usage of the deboned chicken.

Mechanically deboned chicken meat (MDCM) is basically a meat item got by stripping and squashing tissues after meat is removed from the bone and is expansively utilized as a part of meat items. It is actually like a viscous material and is usually processed by constraining pork, beef, chicken, or turkey meat under heightened force through a sifter or comparable apparatus to divide the skeletal substance (i.e. the bone) from the consumable meat flesh. This processed meat can be utilized in manufacturing a variety of processed poultry products like bologna, hot dogs or sausages. A large scale processed food manufacturing units usually use this mechanically separate meat.

mechanically separate meat

The nutritious value of mechanically deboned meat

A question might arise in a layman’s mind that whether the mechanically processed meat is nutritious for health or not. So we very logically answer this question and here we go.

And the answer goes YES!!! MDCM can be labeled as a nutritious meat. The nutritional profile of the MCDM holds marginally more elevated amounts of phosphorous and calcium which are actually the fundamental supplements. A single serving of MCDM of 4ozs weight contains 250 calories with only 20g of fat and 85mg of cholesterol. Moreover it contains protein content as well. The nutrition facts of chicken meat show that separate meat is not only easy to handle, but is also safe and nutritious for an individual’s diet.

Safety and regulations of MCDM

Another important point of consideration is the safety and regulatory measures adopted by the regulatory bodies of food quality maintenance. As we talked about deboning of meat, it becomes clear that the meat is processed at an industrial level to utilize maximum of the meat content of the poultry meat. This would definitely involve the usage of some chemicals. When the meat is mechanically separated, it loses the color as well as the flavor and in order to give MCDM the flavor and a hue, artificial colors and flavors are added; and to make it bacteria free, the meat is treated with ammonium hydroxide. Well, still there is not much to worry about as the different regulatory bodies in different countries have set boundaries on the mechanically separated chicken meat usage in the processed products, most of them limiting it to 20%. But with the outburst of epidemic of mad cow disease in 1980’s, the concerns augmented as the disease was the result of the mixing up of spinal cord bits with the separated meat. This led to the formation of various regulatory bodies. One of the renowned regulatory bodies is USDA which is working day and night for the food safety. You can visit the web link in order to see the accomplishments of it in maximizing the provision of safe and good quality products by establishing various strict rules on food services.

Usage of  MCDM   products

When it comes to the usage of the mechanically separated meat, then the facts about the poultry meat clearly show the wide and enormous usage of the pink slime or MCDM. It is everywhere. It is like an epidemic which is spreading no doubt. You name the processed food and you would have a noticeable amount of this meat in it. Whether it is chicken nuggets or fillets, burgers or hot dogs, sausages or pepperoni, meat balls or ham, the mechanically separate meat serves as the basic ingredient in each of them.

processed chicken meat products

After the discussion, it can be rightly concluded that even if MCDM cannot be excluded from the food products, it must at least be used within the safe boundaries as nothing processed and artificial can meet the natural taste and nutrition of the food products.

15 tips for collecting and cleaning fresh eggs

Keeping chickens in the backyard is amongst the most beneficial hobbies; I have adopted this habit of raising chicks and chickens from my forefathers. It is indeed very exciting and rewarding, as the cute little fellows run here and there through the driveway. Sooner, the day would come when your little fellows would transform into big beautiful hens and you would be able to grab a few eggs from their nest for breakfast. Indeed, you will actually feel the difference in taste and look of the fresh farm egg that you obtain from the backyard chicken and the one you used to bring from the grocery store.

I have variety of chicken breeds in my farm so I get the chance to enjoy both white and brown eggs; there is particularly no difference between the tastes of the two, but I enjoy white egg more. It’s my personal experience, the weather is warm usually the summer and spring seasons, the hens lay more eggs. I have a small flock of ten hens and they almost lay 8  eggs on a daily basis. However, this small flock provides with lesser amount of eggs when its winter and autumn. Even the age of the hen affects the egg production; the older hens start producing lesser number of eggs than before.

When it’s the peak time of egg production, you must pay special attention to your flocks. It’s ideal to store more eggs during the time and store eggs for prolonged winter and autumn seasons. You must be wondering about the tips on collecting and cleaning eggs. The excerpt highlight important and useful tips that can help you achieve your goal easily;

Even before the process of cleaning chicken eggs the process of collecting the eggs matters. You cannot simply disturb the hen and get out the eggs just like that; it can even destroy the egg while making it dirty at the same time.

1: The nest must be maintained:

A raw nest would never be robust enough to take care of the hen’s egg. You should make sure that the nest is fully covered with straws or feathers. In case the nest is not having any gaps than immediately fill it with feathers again.

2: Collect the eggs as soon as laid:

There are many chicken raisers which keep the eggs in the nest or under the hens overnight – this many times lead to the breaking of the eggs. So, during the peak egg production time, you must collect the eggs twice a day.

collecting egg

3: Keep hens away from the nest when eggs have been laid:

You must make sure that the nest is at a height that chicken does not get on it after laying the eggs. If the hen will rest again on the eggs, the chances of getting dirt and murk are more; also, the eggs are prone more to damage.

4: Play with the hen:

As soon as the hen has laid eggs, distract her by providing her delicious meal. She would get busy eating the meal and meanwhile you can collect the eggs easily.

5: Always keep the eggs in a plastic tray:

Whenever you collect the fresh eggs place them in a plastic tray, so that they do not get damage while taking to the kitchen.

6: Keep clean and dirty eggs separately:

While collecting eggs make sure you keep clean and dirty ones separately.

7: Egg cleaning:

Try your best that you get the cleanest form of eggs from the nest. On collecting the eggs on time it is very simple of finding the fresh and warm hen eggs.

8: Washing eggs is not suggested:

Washing fresh egg leads to removal of the egg bloom – it is the natural protective layer on the egg which ensures that it retains the fresh and acts like a germ shield too. However, if the egg is extremely murkier than you can opt simple ways of cleaning it.

9: Dry cleaning eggs:

It may sound weird to you but buffing the egg with fine sandpaper helps in removal of the dirt. By doing so, you can also make sure that the egg bloom remains protected.

10: Wet cleaning

As the name suggests, it is the process of washing the eggs with water for removal of darker stains and dirt. But wash it under running water just warmer then the egg not in cool water.

11: Rubbing eggs with a cloth:

This is another simple tip of egg cleaning – whilst collecting the eggs from the nest keep a cloth with you; the warmer eggs can easily get rid of stains of murk in any.

12: Run eggs under lukewarm water:

The dirt and murk would easily wash away by putting the eggs in lukewarm water bucket. Never ever think of washing the eggs in the cold water, it leads to bacteria development.

washing egg under water

13: Use non-abrasive sponge:

Sometimes the stains are quite irritating and they don’t wash away easily. At such points you can use a non-abrasive sponge dipped in any detergents and wash the egg smoothly.

14: Scrubbing helps:

Raw eggs with stains and chicken’s dirt must be softly scrubbed with a sponge or sandpaper. This helps in removing the stains without much effort.

sponge

15: Keep your coop clean:

If you would work hard on cleaning the coop clean, you would easily get cleaner eggs. If you would leave the broken eggs and dirt in the nest, newer eggs would get the same dirt and cleaning them would get compulsory.