With the holidays fast approaching, you need to prepare for some serious turkey consumption. If you are a fowl fanatic, you will relish the leftovers as much as you do the original meal. While you are gorging yourself on this meaty bird, you may take a break to wonder if turkey is actually good for you. Fortunately, you can generally eat turkey without harming your health. You may even improve it.

Dental Health

Because protein is usually not harmful to your enamel, eating turkey is dentist approved. As a bonus, when the phosphorus in turkey combines with vitamin D and calcium, it can help strengthen your teeth, something that is good for everyone. Of course, after any big meal, you need to brush and floss your teeth, but you can rest assured that turkey is generally tooth-friendly.

Low Calorie

If you layer on enough other ingredients, like gravy and dressing, you can make your turkey high in calories. However, turkey by itself is quite low in calories, particularly the white meat. A four-ounce portion of turkey breast without the skin is only 153 calories. At that low rate, you can fill up on turkey without worrying about your waistline.  You will have to add a few calories to that total if you are a dark meat fan, but overall, stuffing yourself with turkey is not a problem.

Nutrients

Turkey is a pretty good source of nutrients as well. You can easily get your daily allowance of protein by eating turkey, but you also get additional benefits. In addition to the phosphorus mentioned above, you also get zinc, iron, potassium, and vitamin B. Turkey is actually a tasty and affordable way to eat healthy when it is eaten along with other low-calorie, low-fat choices.

Problems

The unhealthy aspect of Thanksgiving has little to do with turkey. The side dishes and assortment of desserts are what add fat, calories, and sugar to the dinner. If you make turkey the main part of your meal and choose steamed vegetables as an accompaniment, you can get through the holidays in a healthy manner. Of course, you can add small servings of less healthy food, but keep it to a minimum.

Eating healthy during the holidays may seem impossible, but you can be easier on your body and your teeth if you focus on foods like turkey and other unadorned dishes. You will take in fewer calories and also get some much-needed nutrition. Plus, turkey in any form is downright delicious. For more information, contact a dentist like Marc E. Segal, D.D.S.