As people begin to make plans for Thanksgiving gatherings, I have to ask, is there a big difference between chicken and turkey? Why do these birds give us white and dark meat? I do not know about you, but it sure made my life growing up as a kid a lot easier when we had an opportunity to choose between white or dark meat.
As a child, I was the runt in the family, I honestly do not know why I chose the turkey leg, but that’s what I always ended up with. Sometime between being a kid, and turning into an adult, I switched to white meat. I do not remember when that happened; but whenever it happened, that’s all I prefer to eat now. Some kids never grow up!
Now that I’m older and more mature, I admit, I’ve made many changes over the course of my lifetime. Back in 1986, I made the conscious decision to stop eating meat – but I couldn’t give up Turkey or Chicken. Thanksgiving was only a few weeks away, and I it would be a sin to give it up now. That’s what I thought then; that was my decision. I still have had no regrets. I never eat fish and I do not eat much chicken or turkey, mostly salads, fruits, vegetables and pasta without meat, but when it comes to a dinner I always prefer white meat!
But now, I ponder the question, why do chickens and the turkeys offer us both, white meat and dark? Why do some people prefer the legs, thighs, wings or breast? What is it about the traditional holiday bird – the turkey that divides people up between white meat and dark?
I did a little research and here’s what I found out. First of all, I couldn’t find a living, breathing turkey – but I did find this chicken with a little history on the bird. I thought it was really nice of the Dominique chicken to pose next to the sign for me, wouldn't you agree? If you read the sign, next to the chicken, you’ll discover some interesting information.
But curious minds want to know more. Why do chickens and turkeys offer us both white meat and dark? So here’s what I found out from e-nature and I thought you might find it of interest too. Perhaps it will make a great conversation piece for you and your family and friends as you begin the season of Thanksgiving.
The Answer lies in the Fibers
The muscles of all birds possess several types of fibers. In fact, each muscle usually has a mixture of these fibers. Because red ones predominate in the leg and thigh muscles of birds like turkeys and chickens, the tissue there appears dark. The breast tissue, meanwhile, is composed mostly of white muscle fibers. Why? Because the breast muscles of these birds serve a different purpose than their leg and thigh muscles.
Turkeys and chickens, remember, are ground-dwelling birds that spend all of their waking hours walking, running, and scratching for food. The muscles in their legs are adapted for constant use and do not fatigue easily. The individual red fibers are very fine and contain an abundance of compounds that make them efficient at aerobic respiration. These tissues are also high in both fat and sugar, which act as fuel for aerobic metabolism. Small songbirds, by contrast, can fly efficiently for hours at a time because they have a predominance of red fibers in their flight muscles.
So Can Turkeys Fly?
While turkeys can fly, they aren’t capable of sustained flight. The large muscles that we call “white meat” are adapted for explosive bursts of power—such as when one of these heavy-bodied birds is surprised by a predator and must escape in a flash of speed (turkeys have been clocked at 55 miles per hour). These muscles are powered by anaerobic metabolism and tend to fatigue quickly.
The opposite is true of ducks and geese. These birds are long-distance fliers, and their large breast muscles consist of dark meat that’s high in fat content.
Yet the birds with the greatest concentration of red muscle fibers in their flight muscles are not the ones that make the longest migratory flights. No, it’s the birds that utilize the highest number of wing beats during sustained flight.
And which birds are those? Hummingbirds, of course!
Copyrighted by e-nature
Curious Minds Want to Know
Do you prefer white meat or dark? Why? Could you give up all other meat (seafood too) and only choose white meat when served for Thanksgiving or other times when offered for dinner? Do you think there's a correlation between people who eat only "white meat," and the turkey that has large muscles that we call "white meat" adapted for explosive bursts of power?
Do you think a REALTOR® is more like the chicken or the turkey? After all, turkeys and chickens, are ground-dwelling birds that spend all of their waking hours walking, running, and scratching for food.
Have a GREAT day!
Patricia, The Little Realtor® That Could
Comments(40)