Chicken is by far the most popular meat in the world. It’s high in protein, low in calorie and contains no fat or carbs. It’s not a staple of every diet, but it should be. If you eat chicken often then you might want to know how much protein is in an 8 oz chicken breast.
How much protein is in an 8 oz chicken breast? That is a good question and one many people often ask. The answer may surprise you!
An 8 Oz chicken has 52 grams of protein. But there are various factors also matter as it cannot be classified as accurate in all cases.
How much is a serving?
A chicken breast is considered a serving of meat, which is typically 3 ounces, or the size of a deck of cards. That’s a relatively small portion—about the size of the palm of your hand.
For example, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s website says that “a half-cup serving (the equivalent of one-and-a-half 1-oz. servings) is about the size of a computer mouse.”
So if you eat one chicken breast for dinner, like many people do, it’s probably much bigger than the recommended serving size, which could be anywhere between 5 and 7 ounces depending on who you ask. How much protein in 8 oz chicken breast?
It might sound like an absurd question—how much protein should there be in an 8-ounce chicken breast? But it’s actually pretty hard to get a straight answer.
How Many Calories In A Chicken Breast?
How many calories are in a chicken breast? The answer depends on the size of the chicken and whether it is skinless.
A 3 1/2-ounce serving of chicken breast contains 165 calories, or 74 calories per ounce. Chicken breast is one of the leanest parts of the chicken, which also makes it one of the driest. Because it is low in fat and cholesterol, it is also low in flavor, so marinating or cooking it with other ingredients helps.
A skinless chicken breast has 24 grams of protein. Protein provides energy and helps build muscle and other tissues throughout your body. A 3 1/2-ounce serving of chicken breast has 31 grams of protein, or 56 percent of your daily value, based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
How Many Carbs in a Chicken Breast?
The amount of carbs in chicken breast depends on the size of the chicken breast. A chicken breast that weighs three ounces has only 0.09 grams of carbohydrates and a whopping 28 grams of protein. It’s no wonder bodybuilders and fitness junkies love chicken breast so much. The three-ounce chicken breast also contains:
-5 grams of fat
-0 grams of fiber
-53 calories
Because chicken breast is low in carbs and it’s high in protein, it makes a great snack for those who want to lose weight or gain muscle mass. You can also add vegetables to make this meal even healthier. If you’re looking for ways to incorporate chicken breast into your diet, check out our list of healthy recipes to get you started!
What about the fat content?
When you’re worried about how much protein in 8 oz chicken breast, it may help to know that this is one of the leanest cuts of meat.
The nutritional value of chicken breast can vary depending on the cut, how it’s prepared and where it’s purchased.
The recommended daily allowance (RDA) for protein is 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight. This translates to about 46 grams per day for the average sedentary woman and 56 grams for the average sedentary man.
This amount increases for people who exercise regularly since a higher-protein diet helps build muscle. So if you’re a bodybuilder or someone who does regular intense exercise, you might need between 1.2 and 1.7 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight.
An 8-ounce (227-gram) skinless chicken breast contains about 53 grams of protein, or 104% of the RDA.
What about sodium?
The same quantity of chicken breast—8 ounces—has 6.2 grams of sodium. It’s important to remember that sodium is not only an essential nutrient, but it can also be dangerous in excess.
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends consuming less than 2,300 mg of sodium per day and no more than 1,500 mg per day for certain groups such as those over 51 years old, African Americans, and people with diabetes, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease.
So if you’re wondering how much protein in 8 oz chicken breast, the answer is a lot! But make sure you keep your consumption of saturated fat and sodium in check.
Final Thoughts
Chicken breast is a great source of protein and it is the best lean meat to eat. It can help you to lose weight. There are many people who think that 8 oz chicken breast has the same amount of protein as 4 oz beef steak. This is not true because chicken breast has less calories than beef and it is a healthy meat and also contains no fat, making it better for your diet.
