Thanksgiving Turkey -- More Than Just Delicious

Thanksgiving Turkey -- More Than Just Delicious

By Jackie Silver

LegThanksgiving is right around the corner, so let's talk turkey. Most people already know that turkey is an excellent source of protein, but did you also know that turkey is a good source of cancer-preventive selenium?1 Selenium is an essential component of several major metabolic pathways, including thyroid hormone metabolism, antioxidant defense systems and immune function.

Selenium has been shown to induce DNA repair2 and synthesis in damaged cells, inhibit the growth of cancer cells and rev up the self-destruct sequence the body uses to eliminate worn out or abnormal cells. But that's not all...

Vitamin B6 is an important vitamin present in turkey, as well as niacin, which plays a role in maintaining good cholesterol.3 B6 is needed for more than 100 enzymes involved in protein metabolism, according to the National Institutes of Health.4 It's also essential for red blood cell metabolism and for the proper function of your nervous and immune systems. So, even if your eyes glazed over from all that scientific mumbo jumbo, you can rest assured that your body and your taste buds will enjoy your Thanksgiving turkey!

Have you ever cooked your turkey to the USDA-recommended5 165 degrees and found that it's still pink next to the bone? It may simply be a very young turkey. Its immature bones may allow hemoglobin to leach into the meat, but it's still safe to eat.6 Here's another quick tip: don't cook your turkey with the dressing stuffed inside -- you may be risking a case of food poisoning.7 Instead, try this original recipe, cooked separately, as an Aging Backwards side dish.

Original Thanksgiving Recipe: Aging Backwards Stuffing with Cranberry

1 package store-bought, flavored stuffing
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 onion, chopped
3 tablespoons of Brazil nuts, chopped (good source of selenium)
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1 cup hot water

Pour hot water over dried cranberries and set aside. Sauté celery and onion until soft. Prepare stuffing mix per package directions and add sautéed celery, onions, chopped Brazil nuts and plumped cranberries. Spoon mixture into casserole dish and bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Serve a small portion as a side to turkey. Remember, portion control is conducive to Aging Backwards.

Here's why cranberry stuffing is a great choice for your Thanksgiving turkey. The medical and health community recognizes antioxidants as premier disease fighters, and cranberries have been shown to contain more antioxidants than 19 commonly eaten fruits. According to a recent study, these antioxidants may play a role in helping to prevent certain cancers and heart disease.8

References

1. http://www.cancerproject.org/protective_foods/selenium.php
2. http://jnci.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/95/2/98
3. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080605150904.htm
4. http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/vitaminb6.asp
5. http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/
6. http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/Turkey/faqs.html
7. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/1715751.stm
8. http://www.cranberryinstitute.org/news/PR/PR062001.htm