Chicken is one of the most widely consumed meats here in the U.S.
It’s eaten in countless different forms and forms a central part of a balanced diet for millions of people here and across the world.
The other day, though, when I was eating out at a restaurant, I noticed a few different goat dishes on the menu.
I got wondering about whether this was as good for you or any worse for you than chicken—so I decided to look into it.
So, goat vs chicken—which is better?
By more or less any quantifiable metric, then, goat meat is nutritionally superior to chicken.
It’s both higher in the things that are good for you and lower in the things that are bad for you.
This is not to say that chicken is bad for you—it only goes to show how good for you goat meat is.
Let’s look further into this.
Is goat healthier than chicken?
The simple answer is yes, it is.
Chicken meat is not unhealthy if consumed in the right quantities.
That said, there are clearly many advantages of goat meat over chicken.
Firstly, goat meat is much higher in iron than chicken.
Iron is a really essential mineral, and it’s important to get a good amount from our diet.
Chicken provides some, but not as much as goat meat, pound for pound.
Goat meat is also higher in zinc and potassium.
Goat meat is also higher in protein than chicken.
Comparably speaking, goat meat is a much richer source of protein—meaning you need to eat less of it to get the same amount of protein.
Goat is also much lower in saturated fat than chicken.
Again, chicken is hardly overflowing with saturated fat, but goat meat still has a more favorable amount.
Goat meat is, finally, lower in overall calories and cholesterol.
It is clearly the healthier option, providing both a higher quantity of favorable nutrients as well as lower amounts of things that you want to reduce in your diet.
While there are some advantages of chicken over goat in a few areas, overall, goat meat is clearly the superior option.
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Which is easiest to digest chicken or goat?
When it comes to digestion, goat meat is again the clear winner.
Goat meat is actually different from other red meats and indeed all meats at the molecular level.
This means that it is indeed easier to digest and break down.
Around 70% of the world’s population eat goat meat in some form or another.
This goes to show just how central it is to the diets of so many people.
Chickens are much more often raised for eggs, and their meat is less commonly consumed.
Easy digestion is a key part of your diet that is not as often discussed.
Goat meat will have a much easier time passing through your gut, and so again it is the clear winner.
So, overall, then, on its own terms, is goat meat good for you?
Is goat meat good for health?
When we ask this question about any food, the important thing is always about balance.
Goat meat is indeed good for your health as part of a balanced diet, but it’s important that there is balance.
Whether it’s goat or chicken, if you are eating too much of it, then it’s not going to be good for your health.
That said, goat meat is certainly the superior meat for your health and diet.
You can eat goat meat more regularly than you can chicken.
The iron content will be good for your blood and immune system.
The protein will help keep your muscles healthy and strong and will give you plenty of energy to tackle your day.
Preparing it right is really important, too.
We in the west are more naturally accustomed to how to prepare chicken, but goat is not exactly the same.
Be sure to read up on proper preparation, or it won’t be as good for you as it might be.
In any case, it’s certainly better for your health than chicken.
Can I eat goat meat every day?
Realistically, no.
Goat meat is still a fairly complex food, and should only make up a smaller part of your diet.
At most, you should eat it two or three times a week.
As I said, balance is the most important thing.
There really aren’t that many foods that you should eat every day, and certainly not goat meat.
Ideally, you would eat goat meat alongside several other meats during the week.
Take a day or so to try a plant-based diet, too, for maximum balance.
As healthy for you as goat meat is, it is for precisely this reason that you shouldn’t eat it every day.
You only need to eat a small amount to get the requisite nutrition.
It’s plain to see the advantages of goat meat over chicken, then.
Chicken, while more widely consumed, is higher in saturated fats and overall much lower in vitamins and minerals.
Goat meat is more well-rounded and robust meat, and though it isn’t as commonly consumed, it’s plainly superior nutritionally.
If you can find an easy source for it, then it’s the natural choice for you compared with chicken.
Make the switch!