Beyond Chicken Nutrition Facts: Healthier Than Real Chicken?

An In-Depth Look at the Nutrition of Beyond Chicken

Beyond Meat has made headlines in recent years for its innovative plant-based meat substitutes that mimic the taste and texture of real chicken, beef, and pork. One of their most popular products is the Beyond Burger, a veggie patty designed to look, cook, and satisfy like a traditional beef burger.

More recently, Beyond Meat launched Beyond Chicken - plant-based chicken strips and tenders made from pea protein and other simple, non-GMO ingredients. But how does this faux chicken compare nutritionally to the real thing? Is it actually a healthier option, or is it just highly processed junk food masquerading as health food?

Nutritional Profile of Beyond Chicken

First, lets analyze the nutrition facts of Beyond Chicken to see what were working with:

• Calories: 140 per 85g serving (about 3oz)
• Protein: 14g
• Fat: 6g
• Saturated Fat: 1g
• Carbs: 5g
• Fiber: 3g
• Sugars: 0g

Beyond Chicken contains no cholesterol, keeps saturated fats very low, and eliminates sugar almost entirely. This nutritional profile looks pretty impressive on its own, but how does it stack up against regular chicken?

Beyond Chicken vs. Real Chicken Nutrition

For an accurate comparison, lets look at the nutritional facts for an equivalent 3oz portion of traditional skinless chicken breast:

• Calories: 142
• Protein: 27g
• Fat: 3g
• Saturated Fat: 1g
• Carbs: 0g
• Fiber: 0g

Right away, youll notice the two have nearly identical calorie counts. However, there are some key differences that set them apart:

Protein

Chicken packs nearly double the amount of protein per serving compared to Beyond Chicken. Since protein is important for building muscle mass and keeping you feeling full, real chicken has a slight advantage here.

Fat

Beyond Chicken contains 6g of total fat per serving, while skinless chicken breast has just 3g. Still, the plant-based chicken keeps saturated fats the same at 1g per serving.

Carbs and Fiber

Real chicken contains zero carbs or fiber. Beyond Chicken has 5g of total carbs and 3g of dietary fiber. This fiber is important for healthy digestion and feeding good gut bacteria.

Micronutrients

When it comes to vitamins and minerals, Beyond Chicken adds in calcium, iron, potassium, and various B vitamins. Animal meat contains more zinc and B12 naturally.

Looking at the big picture, Beyond Chicken is very comparable to real chicken in core macronutrients. It does contain more carbs and fat, but also more fiber and key micronutrients. The plant-based chicken alternative may be slightly less diet-friendly due to more calories from fat, but it makes up for this with extra nutritional bonuses.

Beyond Chicken Ingredients

When comparing nutrition labels, most experts stress the importance of looking past the macros to understand the ingredients. While Beyond Meat doesnt disclose their full proprietary formula, they do list the main ingredients:

• Water
• Pea Protein Isolate
• Pea Fiber
• Pea Starch
• Rice Starch
• Gluten-Free Flours
• Vegetable Glycerin
• Canola and Coconut Oil
• Natural Flavors and Colors

At a glance, the ingredients list for Beyond Chicken is reassuring. Instead of scary lab-produced compounds, you see recognizable veggies, starches, oils, proteins, and fibers. There are no artificial anything, animal products, GMOs, antibiotics, or hormones.

However, there is valid criticism around processed foods like Beyond Meat. Technically you could call it highly processed due to extensive manufacturing, heating, extrusion, freezing, and rehydration.

That said, these processing methods allow Beyond to craft meat directly from plants without excessive chemicals. They simply apply heating, cooling, and pressure to align plant proteins and fats into meaty fibers. In moderation, these alternative meats can fit into an overall healthy lifestyle.

Health Benefits of Beyond Chicken

Beyond creating nutritious meat replacements, Beyond Meat specifically formulates their products to be as healthy as possible. Here are some of the touted benefits of eating Beyond Chicken and other products:

More Iron and Protein Than Beef

Gram for gram, Beyond Meat contains more iron and comparable protein to beef. Iron supports healthy blood and muscle function, while protein keeps you satisfied.

No Cholesterol

All animal meats contain cholesterol, while plant foods do not naturally contain any. Beyond Chicken has zero cholesterol per serving.

Less Saturated Fat

Saturated fat from animal sources can raise unhealthy LDL cholesterol levels. By using plant-based oils, Beyond Chicken minimizes this.

More Antioxidants

Certain compounds in Beyond Meat products have antioxidant effects in the body to fight disease and inflammation.

Gut Health

The added fiber feeds healthy gut bacteria, which can aid digestion, boost immunity, improve mood, and assist healthy weight management.

Sustainability

Replacing even a small portion of meat with plant protein eases the environmental strain of modern meat production.

Potential Drawbacks of Beyond Chicken

While the benefits seem abundant, there are a few potential health concerns tied to these meat alternatives that consumers should know.

High Sodium

Like most commercial meats and frozen foods, Beyond Chicken is quite high in added sodium at 390mg per 3oz serving. This equals about 17% of daily recommended sodium per serving.

Allergies

Those with allergies to peas, certain starches, yeast, mustard, or wheat should use caution with Beyond Meat. Despite a gluten-free claim, some facilities may also process wheat occasionally.

Gut Issues

Due to protein processing methods, some digestive troubles may occur after eating Beyond Meat. These foods may also irritate inflammatory bowel diseases for some.

Nutrient Absorption

While plant proteins are healthy, evidence shows our bodies absorb more essential amino acids from animal proteins.

As with any food, moderation is key. Having the occasional Beyond Burger or Beyond Chicken tenders can fit into a balanced, real food-focused diet. But relying too heavily on ultra-processed meat alternatives may backfire.

Is Beyond Chicken Healthy?

At the end of the day, is Beyond Chicken actually good for you? Heres the verdict:

Compared to traditional chicken, Beyond Chicken is very similar in macronutrients. It does contain slightly more calories from fat, though it also supplies extra fiber and key vitamins and minerals.

When looking at ingredients, Beyond Chicken contains recognizable plant foods without GMOs, antibiotics, hormones, cholesterol. Or scary chemicals. However, it is more processed than whole foods.

As far as benefits go, Beyond Chicken offers a hearty dose of satiating protein, critical iron for energy, no cholesterol, and less saturated fat than regular meat. The added fiber also promotes good digestion and gut health.

Potential drawbacks like sodium, allergies, and nutrient bioavailability should be considered. But these can be mitigated by eating Beyond Meat in moderation as part of an overall nutritious diet.

In summary, yes - Beyond Chicken can be part of healthy lifestyle that emphasizes whole, minimally processed foods. Its nutritional profile is comparable or favorable to animal chicken when consumed responsibly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are answers to some common questions about Beyond Chicken and other faux meats:

Is Beyond Chicken gluten-free?

According to Beyond Meat, Beyond Chicken products are certified gluten-free to contain less than 20ppm of gluten. However, those very sensitive should exert caution due to potential cross-contamination.

Is Beyond Chicken Keto-friendly?

At 5g net carbs per serving, Beyond Chicken can potentially fit into a Keto lifestyle in moderation. Just be mindful of sodium content.

Is Beyond Chicken Whole30 approved?

Unfortunately, Beyond Chicken doesn't meet Whole30 guidelines due to containing off-limits ingredients like isolates, concentrates, alternate sweeteners, starches, and carrageenan.

What nutrients are in Beyond Chicken?

Beyond Chicken contains protein, health fats, carbohydrates, fiber, iron, calcium, potassium, B vitamins, and various antioxidants from vegetable sources.

Can you bake or grill Beyond Chicken products?

Yes! Beyond Chicken strips, tenders, and patties are designed to be just as versatile to cook with as traditional chicken meat.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.