Actress Choi Jung-won, 55, revealed that she undertook a chicken breast diet to address weight gain caused by menopause.
On Wednesday, Choi appeared on TV Chosun's variety show "Perfect Life" and said, "When I entered menopause four years ago, I gained 8 to 9 kg at once. My inflammation levels also exceeded twice the normal range," explaining that she decided to diet due to deteriorating health.
Choi said that she had taken a body profile photo after her diet at the time, stating, "When I lost 9 kg in three months," which sparked surprise.
She cited a chicken breast diet as the secret to her weight loss. She said, "I survived by eating only 100g of chicken breast a day" and added, "It was difficult because I had to give up the pleasure of eating."
However, when asked if she still maintains her physique from that time, she laughed and replied, "Of course not." She said, "Weight lost quickly tends to come back just as fast. As I get older, my digestion isn't as good, so I can no longer adhere to extreme dietary restrictions."
Chicken breast diet for high-protein intake: What should you watch out for?
Chicken breast is the part of the chicken that is richest in protein and lowest in fat. According to the food nutrition component database registered by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, 100g of raw chicken meat contains 22.97g of protein. The calorie count is also low at 106 kcal.
Protein is a nutrient that helps maintain muscle mass during weight loss. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health explains that because it takes longer for protein to digest, it can help maintain satiety for a longer period and may also aid in preserving lean body mass during weight loss.
However, rather than eating only chicken breast, a balanced diet that includes various nutrients such as vegetables and carbohydrates is important.
For carbohydrates, brown rice is recommended as it helps mitigate the sharp rise in blood sugar after meals. For vegetables, it is good to pair them with cabbage and young leafy greens, which are rich in dietary fiber.
When eating chicken breast, it is better to grill raw meat directly rather than consuming products with commercial sauces. Many processed chicken breast products containing sauces have high levels of sugar or sodium.
Additionally, large amounts of preservatives such as sodium nitrite and thickeners are often used during the processing stage, so verification is necessary.
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