Ladies and gentlemen, we have been hit with yet another blow to our culture. A new Harvard study states that eating chicken nuggets leads to an early death.
This study would normally be something that would be mostly overlooked. However, considering the source — Harvard University — and the length of the survey — more than 30 years — its something we should all pay attention to.
The findings really show the risks associated with ultra-processed foods, including obesity, heart disease, diabetes and cancer.
According to Harvard Universitys Departments of Epidemiology and Nutrition,”Our findings suggest that meat/poultry/seafood-based ready-to-eat products and sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened beverages are major factors contributing to the harmful influence of ultra-processed foods on mortality. “.
Chicken nuggets fall right into the category of ready-to-eat poultry products that so many of us Americans have become dependent on. Not just because of the taste, but the readiness, the availability, ease of cooking and cheap prices.
According to Circana, which calls itself “the leading advisor on the complexity of consumer behavior,” dollar sales for frozen processed chicken reached $5. 1 billion in the 52-week period ending March 24, 2024, with volume sales up 7. 5 percent. Within the subcategory, nuggets are the sales leader, followed by strips.
Its no secret that America is struggling with an obesity problem. According to the CDC, the current American obesity rate is 41. 9%.
If you add this number to the fact that a lot of people in the US eat chicken nuggets, things could go very badly unless something changes.
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People, especially kids, like chicken nuggets as a fast food item. But eating too many can be dangerous. Let’s find out how many chicken nuggets it takes to kill you.
What’s in Chicken Nuggets?
Chicken nuggets are made from chicken that has been cut up and shaped. They are usually dipped in batter and fried in oil. The coating helps keep the nuggets moist on the inside and makes the outside crunchy.
While the primary ingredient is chicken most nuggets also contain
- Fillers like wheat flour or cornmeal
- Binders like egg whites or gelatin
- Seasonings and spices
- Oil or fat for frying
Additionally, the batter coating contains:
- Flour
- Spices
- Sometimes sugar
- Oil or fat
While chicken nuggets can be a convenient source of protein, the coating and frying make them high in calories, fat, and sodium. The fillers and binders also dilute some of the nutritional value compared to eating whole chicken breast.
How Many Nuggets Are Dangerous?
It’s never a good idea to eat a lot of chicken nuggets at once. But when does it really become a threat to your life? There are a few things to think about.
Choking Hazard
You could choke if you tried to shove hundreds of nuggets down your throat at once. When chicken nuggets are not chewed properly, especially by children, they can sometimes kill you by choking.
However, for most people this is not the biggest risk of overeating nuggets. You would likely feel too full and nauseous long before reaching your physical choking limit.
Sodium Overdose
Eating an extreme amount of salty foods like chicken nuggets can lead to hypernatremia – dangerously high sodium levels in the blood.
Symptoms include nausea, headaches, confusion, and seizures. In rare cases it can lead to coma and death.
Most chicken nuggets contain around 200-300 mg of sodium per serving. So eating dozens could spike sodium intake to unsafe levels.
Obesity and Heart Disease
The more likely danger is the long term effects of overeating any high calorie, high fat food like fried chicken nuggets.
Consuming well over the recommended daily calories and fat intake on a regular basis can lead to obesity over time. Obesity raises your risk for heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and other illnesses.
So while no specific number of nuggets can immediately stop your heart, regular overeating does put your health at risk.
Cases of Nugget Overdose
There are a few news stories about people consuming insane amounts of chicken nuggets:
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In 2013 a man reportedly ate 413 Red Lobster biscuits and went into a coma. Though this turned out to be a hoax story.
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In 2018 a satirical story claimed a man ate 413 chicken nuggets then became paralyzed.
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Competitive eater Matt Stonie ate 100 nuggets in 10 minutes during a 2016 challenge.
So real cases of life-threatening chicken nugget overdose are hard to find. Your body will generally make you stop eating well before you reach that point.
How Many Nuggets Are Too Many?
There’s no precise number of chicken nuggets that will kill you. But health issues can start to arise from eating:
- 10-30 nuggets in one sitting
- 20-50 nuggets per day
- 300+ nuggets per week
Consuming nuggets within the recommended limits is less risky:
- 2-6 nuggets per meal
- No more than 12-20 per day
- 100-150 per week
Of course, less processed lean proteins like chicken breast are healthier. But the occasional chicken nugget fix need not be dangerous if eaten in moderation.
Signs You’ve Had Too Many Nuggets
Feeling sick after one nugget binge? Watch for these symptoms:
- Nausea, vomiting
- Stomach pain, diarrhea
- Dehydration
- Headache, fatigue, weakness
- Rapid heart rate
- Difficulty breathing
- Swelling in hands and feet
If experiencing these, stop eating nuggets and see a doctor. Be honest about how many you had – they need to know.
Healthier Ways to Eat Nuggets
You can satisfy your nugget craving without going overboard:
- Stick to the 2-6 nugget recommended serving size
- Share larger orders with friends
- Skip fries, soda, and other unhealthy sides
- Bake nuggets at home instead of frying for less calories
- Dip in mustard or barbecue instead of creamy sauces
- Balance with veggies, fruits, and water
Chicken nuggets don’t have to be demonized. Just enjoy your McNuggets or Tendies in moderation as part of an overall healthy diet. Then you can safely savor this tasty treat.
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FAQ
Is it possible to eat 100 Chicken McNuggets?
The “Century McNugget Challenge” – consuming 100 McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets in one hour – has emerged as a benchmark achievement in competitive eating circles. This monumental task involves approximately 4,400 calories and 270 grams of protein, requiring more than just a hearty appetite.
What happens when you eat 20 chicken nuggets?
Is eating 20 chicken nuggets on your own dangerous? If you do it once or twice – no. Not good for you but they will not kill you instantly. 20 nuggets are 800+ calories or about 1/3 to 1/2 of the calories you would want to eat in a day and stay healthy.
Is 10 chicken nuggets too much?
The bad news is that designing the perfect nugget to cater to your cravings means that they’re not exactly good for you. Take the 10-piece order of nuggets. It has 410 calories, 24 grams of fat, and 850 milligrams of sodium. And that’s where the problem really is.
How fast can you eat 20 chicken nuggets?
Record Details The Fastest Time to Eat 20 McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets clocked to 1 minute and 3. 07 seconds was set by Christopher M at Manchester, Great Manchester, England on February 3, 2017.