Tuck into Turkey

We often think of turkey as being purely our Christmas Dinner meal (followed of course by eternal leftovers) and so we don’t tend to eat it that often. However, when you go into cafes, pubs and snack bars and Pret-a-Manger like places, it is often on the menu at this time of year and you could do worse than take advantage of the seasonal menu. Here are some reasons why turkey is a healthy choice: • It’s low fat and high in protein. One breast (deck of cards size, no skin) has about 30 grams of protein and roughly 160 calories.

• It contains tryptophan, an amino acid to help us make serotonin, a neurotransmitter we need to sleep well and to feel good about life.

• It has plenty of B vits and minerals including iron, zinc and selenium. All of these support our energy levels and our immune systems. Selenium is vital for thyroid function.

• One of the B vits its rich in is niacin, which can decrease LDL cholesterol, the harmful one and increase HDL cholesterol, the beneficial one.

However, don’t go for the processed turkey slices at the supermarket as these will contain chemicals and artificial additives.

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