What is the difference between White and dark meat in chicken???

[na_rush]

I got asked a really good question yesterday and didnt have an answer for it...

He asked "What is the difference between White and dark meat in chicken?"

Whats the verdict???

E~

[Sibrek]

Dark meat is more calorie dense...i guess from the fat? but also more nutrient dense.

[na_rush]

Dark meat is more calorie dense...i guess from the fat? but also more nutrient dense.

How much more dense?

[Sibrek]

www.calorieking.com

[na_rush]

www.calorieking.com

Thanks...

Checked it out

White Dark
Fat 1.9 7.9
Protein 16.1 22.2

[u5711]

White meat is basically all protein, but the dark meat has quite a bit of fat. I believe it is darker because it is more vascular tissue and receives more blood supply... something along these lines, but the takehome message is white meat=all good and dark meat=fatty but good .

[gfundaro]

White meat is fast twitch, dark meat is slow twitch. People would look different too if ya cut them up and ate them lol

[kamjah]

White meat is fast twitch, dark meat is slow twitch. People would look different too if ya cut them up and ate them lol

you know, i saw all your helpfull posts and stuff, and i thought to myself, she seems nice. but now i find out your a borderline cannibal. i don't think we can be friends anymore.

[ChingChang]

... People would look different too if ya cut them up and ate them lol

prove it!
don't forget to take pics.

[gfundaro]

you know, i saw all your helpfull posts and stuff, and i thought to myself, she seems nice. but now i find out your a borderline cannibal. i don't think we can be friends anymore.

prove it!
don't forget to take pics.

LOL you are goofballs

It's because we also have fast and slow twitch muscles.
But now that I think of it, I think we'd taste like pork, since they're omnivorous and our skin is similar to theirs (no cannibal)

[sandcar3]

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/mercer10.htm

Mitochondria is why dark meat is dark.

[Aindreas]

I think this has pretty much been answered, but dark meat tends to have more fat, and consequently more flavor IMO. When given the choice, I almost always eat the dark meat, but I have more wiggle room in my macros than most.

[gfundaro]

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/mercer10.htm

Mitochondria is why dark meat is dark.

Great article! And the little chicken is so cute hehe :-)

[PickItUp]

White meat is fast twitch, dark meat is slow twitch. People would look different too if ya cut them up and ate them lol

Damn, I thought it was the other way around...

[gfundaro]

Damn, I thought it was the other way around...

Nope White meat has fewer mitochondria because fast twitch muscle fibers use them less. Fast twitch muscle is used in an anaerobic state, like sprinting, when only glycolysis can be used to produce ATP. And glycolysis takes place in cytoplasm mostly. Mitochondrion are the locations for the Krebs Cycle, which produces ATP only in environments where oxygen is present, like during slower aerobic exercise. More mitochondrion are found in slow twitch fibers because they utilise both glycolysis and the Krebs Cycle. Ta da!

[amberlynn72]

White meat is fast twitch, dark meat is slow twitch. People would look different too if ya cut them up and ate them lol

Hey this is sorta off topic but got me thinking ..how do you know if you have more slow or fast twitch fibers?

[amberlynn72]

Nope White meat has fewer mitochondria because fast twitch muscle fibers use them less. Fast twitch muscle is used in an anaerobic state, like sprinting, when only glycolysis can be used to produce ATP. And glycolysis takes place in cytoplasm mostly. Mitochondrion are the locations for the Krebs Cycle, which produces ATP only in environments where oxygen is present, like during slower aerobic exercise. More mitochondrion are found in slow twitch fibers because they utilise both glycolysis and the Krebs Cycle. Ta da!

How come your so smart..i read all your posts and they are so scientific and intelligent.)

[Wowzer]

Hey this is sorta off topic but got me thinking ..how do you know if you have more slow or fast twitch fibers?

You could have a muscle biopsy done... otherwise you'd be guessing.
There are calculations around that try to give estimates, but these are very, very rough and highly inaccurate.
The biopsy would only give you a general idea, as each muscle has different ratios of slow and fast twitch fibers depending on its function.

[The Solution]

Nope White meat has fewer mitochondria because fast twitch muscle fibers use them less. Fast twitch muscle is used in an anaerobic state, like sprinting, when only glycolysis can be used to produce ATP. And glycolysis takes place in cytoplasm mostly. Mitochondrion are the locations for the Krebs Cycle, which produces ATP only in environments where oxygen is present, like during slower aerobic exercise. More mitochondrion are found in slow twitch fibers because they utilise both glycolysis and the Krebs Cycle. Ta da!

damn thats some good info.. u seem to really know ur stuff.. is this like a hobbie u like to learn about or do u do this for like a real time job? u seem to know ur health **** pretty damn well

[Wowzer]

damn thats some good info.. u seem to really know ur stuff.. is this like a hobbie u like to learn about or do u do this for like a real time job? u seem to know ur health **** pretty damn well

gfundaro's occupation: Intern...

Me thinks she is on her way to becoming a doctor.

[gfundaro]

damn thats some good info.. u seem to really know ur stuff.. is this like a hobbie u like to learn about or do u do this for like a real time job? u seem to know ur health **** pretty damn well

gfundaro's occupation: Intern...

Me thinks she is on her way to becoming a doctor.

No, I'm just a dork. I work for an educational supplies vendor.
I'm going into an Exersize and Health field, starting my Junior year in a couple weeks! And I'm planning on going to grad school for nutrition. This is just stuff I learned in my related biology classes. So some day I'll be a personal trainer/nutritionist who knows her stuff some day.

[gfundaro]

How come your so smart..i read all your posts and they are so scientific and intelligent.)

Hehe thanks :-) I read a LOT. And about knowing how much of each you have...Wowzer is pretty much right. You can guess based on your endurance, contractile strength and speed, and muscle size a liiiiiiiittle bit. You could also estimate on your primary activity, if you sprinted a LOT, or ran marathons. Slow twitch muscles are thinner than fast twitch, and aren't made for endurance. But everyone has both, and it's pretty much based on genetics, with training effecting it slightly.

[skinnyboipgh]

White meat is fast twitch, dark meat is slow twitch. People would look different too if ya cut them up and ate them lol

All along I've just thought the difference was vascularity & fat content. I'm a distance runner (10 km), so I guess my legs r mostly "dark meat" LOL!

[na_rush]

White meat is fast twitch, dark meat is slow twitch. People would look different too if ya cut them up and ate them lol

This what I told him when we were having our talk and this subject came up. Except I think I used the terms Type 1 and Type 2.

[na_rush]

you know, i saw all your helpfull posts and stuff, and i thought to myself, she seems nice. but now i find out your a borderline cannibal. i don't think we can be friends anymore.

What you dont think thats a turn on!!!

[kamjah]

What you dont think thats a turn on!!!

shh! im playing hard to get

[na_rush]

shh! im playing hard to get

Gotta luv smart women with a dark side... plus she is attractive!

[amberlynn72]

Hehe thanks :-) I read a LOT. And about knowing how much of each you have...Wowzer is pretty much right. You can guess based on your endurance, contractile strength and speed, and muscle size a liiiiiiiittle bit. You could also estimate on your primary activity, if you sprinted a LOT, or ran marathons. Slow twitch muscles are thinner than fast twitch, and aren't made for endurance. But everyone has both, and it's pretty much based on genetics, with training effecting it slightly.

well i was born flabby ..i am not lying ..thats why i am asking...and i dont get muscle easily at all.

[gfundaro]

shh! im playing hard to get

LOL ohh great job

Gotta luv smart women with a dark side... plus she is attractive!

Why thank you

well i was born flabby ..i am not lying ..thats why i am asking...and i dont get muscle easily at all.

LOL This is too cute....we're all born flabby The type of muscle doesn't determine your body fat, though. That's more a product of genetics and body type (like endo, meso, ecto, and combinations of those 3). It also has to do with being a female. The type of muscle can change your physical appearance somewhat...think of sprinters and distance runners. They're both low in body fat and highly conditioned, but sprinters a full of thick, fast twitch muscle whereas distance runners have thinner, and probably a bit lighter, slow twitch muscle. However, those extremes are difficult to reach.