By Kris Gunnars, BSc 50,194 views
Butcher With Selection of MeatsMeat is often considered unhealthy because it is high in saturated fat.
For this reason, meat (especially fatty meat) has been demonized.
But new studies have shown that saturated fat is harmless… and meat has been making a comeback as a health food.
That being said, there are some potential concerns with the fatty acid composition of “conventionally” raised meats.
Choosing lean is also appropriate for people who eat a high-carb diet, or need to increase protein intake while keeping calories low.
This article takes a detailed look at lean and fatty meats, what to look out for and how to make the right choices depending on your own goals and preferences.
Differences in Calories and Macronutrients
The most obvious difference between lean and fatty meats is the fat content… with fatty meats being much higher in total fat.
Given that fat contains 9 calories per gram, compared to 4 calories per gram for protein, fatty meats are also higher in calories.
For example, different 100 gram (3.5 oz) parts of chicken contain:
Breast (lean): 165 calories with 4 grams of fat and 31 grams of protein (1).
Wings, meat and skin (fatty): 290 calories with 19 grams of fat and 27 grams of protein (2).
As you can see, a fatty piece of chicken contains almost twice the calories as a lean piece of chicken.