Chicken
What is Chicken?
Chicken is an easily accessible, easy to prepare protein source that has become a dietary staple. Due to the high protein content, there are benefits in muscle growth, bone strength, healing, and much more [1].
Chicken is a great source of protein with many other nutrients.
Chicken is easily accessible, easy to prepare, and a dietary staple in many cultures. However, its preparation can impact the nutritional value. Try to avoid heavily processed chicken products.
There are several health benefits associated with chicken consumption, like brain health and iron-deficiency anemia.
Nutrient Breakdown
Chicken is a great source of:
It is important to note that the fat content will vary depending on which part of the chicken is being served. How the chicken is prepared will also impact the nutritional value [2].
Foods Containing Chicken
Grilled chicken
Chicken kabobs
Chicken nuggets/tenders
Baked chicken
Stir fry
Sliced deli chicken
Fried chicken
Popcorn chicken
Schnitzel
Chicken Alternatives
If your child doesn’t like chicken yet or they are sensitive to it, here are some alternatives that are similar in nutritional value!
Food Reactions
The body can respond to foods in many different ways including food allergies, food sensitivities, or food intolerances. If you suspect a food reaction, you can either choose to avoid the food or seek food reaction testing. Click here more information on the difference in types of food reactions and testing options.
DISCLAIMER: Always consult with your pediatrician and/or your Registered Dietitian to help you test for a food reaction or to aid you in making individualized dietary changes.
Chicken & Autism in the Research
Omega Fatty Acids and Autism
There are two essential fatty acids that people need: Omega-3 and Omega-6. Poultry provides both of these, primarily due to supplementation of their feed. These fatty acids also help with fat soluble vitamin absorption and maximizing the energy created from the food that we eat. Specific types of Omega-3s, EPA and DHA, have been shown to improve fetal development, cardiovascular function, brain function, and lowering cholesterol levels [3].
The industrial supplementation of chicken feed is not only increasing the nutritional value of the meat but also of the eggs that the chicken produces [3].
Brain Health and Autism
Several studies were conducted to see how diet impacts brain health and cognitive function.
One study looking at this relationship discovered that women who get their protein from beans, legumes, fish, and lean poultry have less of a cognitive decline than those who got their protein from sausages and deli meats[4]. This is further supported by a Chinese study that showed that people who consume poultry, among other whole foods, have higher cognitive function and lower odds of impairment [5].
Iron-Deficiency Anemia and Autism
Iron-deficiency anemia is more common in children with autism. Without the correct amounts of iron in the body, cognitive, sensory motor, and social-emotional development and function are directly impacted. This is possibly due to restricted foods being consumed during mealtime [6].
While the obvious answer to treating iron-deficiency anemia would be to increase iron intake, there are other factors that need to be considered. Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, helps iron to be absorbed. By eating foods with a lot of iron, like chicken, ascorbic acid can subtly assist in increasing iron absorption [7].
Chicken and Autism
A study from 2014 hypothesized that ASDs may be correlated to the increasing meat consumption, focusing on poultry in particular. While more data on this hypothesis is required, a correlation between autism and meat consumption was found. However, we do not know the exact reason for this correlation [8].
This correlation is made because of the introduction of how the chickens are raised: there are food additives, growth hormones, antibiotics, and genetic selection to ensure that chickens are of higher value and quality. If you are buying chicken, try to buy organic and pastured chicken (grade A), which is raised with less of these additions.
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[1] https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-reasons-to-eat-more-protein#TOC_TITLE_HDR_4
[2] https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/is-chicken-good-for-you#downsides
[3] Alagawany M, Elnesr SS, Farag MR, et al. Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acids in Poultry Nutrition: Effect on Production Performance and Health. Animals (Basel). 2019;9(8):573. Published 2019 Aug 18. doi:10.3390/ani9080573
[4] Yeh TS, Yuan C, Ascherio A, Rosner BA, Blacker D, Willett WC. Long-term dietary protein intake and subjective cognitive decline in US men and women. Am J Clin Nutr. 2022;115(1):199-210. doi:10.1093/ajcn/nqab236
[5] Huang Q, Jia X, Zhang J, et al. Diet-Cognition Associations Differ in Mild Cognitive Impairment Subtypes. Nutrients. 2021;13(4):1341. Published 2021 Apr 17. doi:10.3390/nu13041341
[6] Bener A, Khattab AO, Bhugra D, Hoffmann GF. Iron and vitamin D levels among autism spectrum disorders children. Ann Afr Med. 2017;16(4):186-191. doi:10.4103/aam.aam_17_17
[7] Lynch SR, Cook JD. Interaction of vitamin C and iron. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1980;355:32-44. doi:10.1111/j.1749-6632.1980.tb21325.x
[8] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306987714002783?via%3Dihub
Authors
Miriam Stein, Nutrition Student
Edited and Reviewed by Brittyn Coleman, MS, RDN/LD, CLT
