Is it Safe to Eat Chicken Hearts During Pregnancy? 💗

As an expectant mom, you want to make sure you and your growing baby get the best nutrition possible. Chicken hearts are an excellent source of protein, iron, zinc, selenium, vitamin A, and other key nutrients. Consuming them in moderation as part of a balanced diet can offer many benefits.

At the same time, properly handling and cooking chicken hearts is important to minimize any risks from bacteria or foodborne illnesses. We’ll outline tips and precautions to take if you choose to add chicken hearts to your pregnancy diet.

Overall, many major health organizations consider chicken hearts safe to eat during pregnancy as long as basic food safety guidelines are followed. We’ll share the specific recommendations so you can make an informed decision.

Benefits of Chicken Hearts

Chicken hearts are nutritionally dense and provide several key nutrients that can help support a healthy pregnancy diet. Here are some of the top benefits of adding chicken hearts in moderation:

• High in Protein: Chicken hearts are an excellent source of high-quality protein. Protein is essential for pregnant women to support proper growth and development of fetal tissues and organs.
• Good Source of Iron: Chicken hearts contain substantial amounts of heme-iron, which is more easily absorbed than non-heme iron from plant foods. Iron is critical for producing additional blood to supply oxygen to the baby.
• High in Zinc: Zinc is needed for many aspects of cellular function and fetal development. Chicken hearts provide zinc that is highly bioavailable.
• Rich in Vitamin A: Chicken hearts are high in preformed vitamin A (retinol) which supports vision, immune function, growth and development.
• Contains Selenium: Selenium is an antioxidant mineral that helps protect cells from damage. It is also important for thyroid hormone regulation during pregnancy.
• Low in Mercury: Unlike some fish, chicken hearts are very low in mercury, which can be harmful in high amounts during pregnancy.

Consuming chicken hearts can be an easy and tasty way to help meet increased nutritional needs during pregnancy. Even just 1-2 servings per week can provide valuable nutrition.

Nutrition in Chicken Hearts

Let’s look closer at the detailed nutrition profile of chicken hearts:

• In a 3 ounce cooked serving of chicken hearts there are:
• 142 calories
• 16 grams protein
• 7 grams fat
• Zero carbs
• 28% DV iron
• 15% DV zinc
• 59% DV selenium
• 152% DV vitamin A
• B vitamins including B12, niacin, and folate

As you can see, chicken hearts pack a powerful punch when it comes to protein, essential minerals, and vitamin A in a low-calorie package. The iron, zinc, vitamin A and selenium are of particular importance during pregnancy.

Consuming chicken hearts 1-2 times per week can help provide substantial amounts of these key nutrients for you and your developing baby. Their nutrition profile makes them a smart addition to an expectant mother’s diet.

Risks and Precautions

While chicken hearts can provide valuable nutrition for pregnancy, there are some risks and precautions to consider:

• Foodborne illness: As with all poultry products, proper handling, cooking, and storage is essential to kill any potential bacteria or viruses that could cause foodborne disease. This is especially important for pregnant women who are at higher risk of complications from illnesses like salmonella.
• High Vitamin A: While vitamin A is an essential nutrient, excessive preformed vitamin A intake can be associated with birth defects. Pregnant women should limit chicken hearts to no more than 1-2 servings per week to avoid consuming too much preformed vitamin A.
• Choking hazard: Chicken hearts should be chopped well, cooked thoroughly, and chewed carefully due to being a potential choking risk, especially for children.
• Allergies: Those with poultry or chicken allergies should avoid chicken hearts. Notify your doctor of any food allergies.

With proper handling and precautions, chicken hearts can be safely enjoyed as part of a healthy pregnancy diet in moderation. But be sure to consult your doctor about any specific concerns or restrictions you may have.

Recommendations from Health Organizations

Reputable health organizations generally consider chicken hearts safe to consume during pregnancy as long as food safety guidelines are followed. Here are some of the specific recommendations:

• FDA: States that pregnant women can eat chicken hearts as long as they are fully cooked to 165°F to kill any bacteria. Advises following proper food handling and storage.
• CDC: Recommends avoiding raw or undercooked poultry. States that chicken hearts are safe if cooked thoroughly to proper temperature and handled properly.
• NHS: Considers chicken hearts safe during pregnancy if cooked thoroughly until piping hot with no pink meat showing. Advises following basic food hygiene practices.
• Healthline: Says chicken hearts are a good source of nutrients for pregnancy but recommends consuming no more than 1-2 times per week due to high vitamin A content.
• American Pregnancy Association: Considers chicken hearts safe in moderation as part of a balanced prenatal diet as long as food prep guidelines are followed.
• Mayo Clinic: States that chicken hearts contain important nutrients but advises pregnant women to avoid eating them raw or undercooked to minimize risk of foodborne illnesses.
• WHO: Says that chicken hearts are safe when thoroughly cooked and handled hygienically. WHO has not issued any advisories against chicken heart consumption in pregnancy.
• BMC Pregnancy & Childbirth: Published study showing chicken hearts are beneficial in pregnancy for boosting hemoglobin levels when consumed 2 times a week along with iron supplementation.

In summary, major health organizations confirm that chicken hearts can be part of healthy pregnancy diet when consumed fully cooked and in moderation, along with proper handling. Consult your own doctor about any specific questions or concerns you may have.

Tips for Cooking and Eating Chicken Hearts

If you want to add chicken hearts to your pregnancy meals, here are some helpful tips for preparation and cooking:

• Purchase fresh: Choose raw chicken hearts that are fresh, firm and pink in color with no bad odors. Avoid old, slimy, or spoiled chicken hearts.
• Store properly: Keep chicken hearts chilled at 40°F or below. Use within 1-2 days for maximum freshness and food safety.
• Wash thoroughly: Rinse chicken hearts under cold running water before cooking or marinating. This removes any potentially harmful bacteria.
• Cook fully: Chicken hearts should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F. They are done when firm and opaque throughout with no pink color left.
• Boil, grill or bake: Heart-healthy ways to cook chicken hearts include boiling, grilling, sautéing, baking, or stewing until fully cooked through.
• Avoid raw consumption: Do not eat chicken hearts raw or undercooked as they can harbor salmonella, E. coli and other dangerous bacteria.
• Watch portion sizes: Limit consumption to 1-2 servings of 3-4 oz chicken hearts per week. Too much can provide excessive preformed vitamin A.
• Clean up safely: Use separate cutting boards and utensils for raw chicken hearts to prevent cross-contamination with other foods. Wash all items that touch raw chicken before reusing.

Following basic food safety practices will allow you to safely reap the nutritional benefits of chicken hearts during pregnancy. Be sure to cook them thoroughly and limit weekly portions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are answers to some common questions about eating chicken hearts during pregnancy:

Summary

Chicken hearts offer beneficial protein, iron, zinc, vitamin A and other nutrients. Major health organizations consider them safe in pregnancy when cooked fully, handled properly, and eaten in moderation 1-2 times per week. Take basic food safety precautions to minimize risks.

References

• U.S. Food and Drug Administration: “Chicken from Farm to Table”
• Centers for Disease Control: “Food Safety While Pregnant – Chicken”
• National Health Service UK: “Foods to Avoid in Pregnancy”
• Healthline: “Can You Eat Chicken Liver While Pregnant?”
• American Pregnancy Association: “Pregnancy Diet – Foods to Avoid”
• Mayo Clinic: “Pregnancy Diet – Food Safety”
• World Health Organization: “Pregnancy Nutrition Guidelines”
• BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth: “Effect of chicken’s giblets supplementation on maternal hemoglobin level”