Ground Turkey or Beef?

Eat to Thrive #3: Fleshing out the fat story on ground meat options.

You might think you make a hands-down healthier choice by eating turkey instead of beef. Mainstream messaging asserts that all kinds of white meat, from chicken to pork, is better than anything with a red hue. However, turkey isn’t always better. The devil is in the juicy details.

First, The Matter of Fat

Even if you are a dedicated plant eater, you want to be picky about the type of fat in your food. Unsaturated fats—like those in olives and avocados—are anti-inflammatory. Where longer saturated fatty acids from meat and even coconut oil are accused of raising cholesterol and being an accessory to heart disease and cancer (although your diet as a whole matters more).

The good news is that the food source, farming approach, and your genetics matter. I wasn’t bluffing when I said the devil is in the details.

Brains at the ready.