For a long time, the common advice has been to trade red meat for leaner options like chicken and turkey to lower health risks such as high cholesterol, cancer, and inflammation—plus, it’s usually a more wallet-friendly protein choice. However, a recent study has found a surprising connection between eating chicken and other poultry and a notably higher risk of dying from gastrointestinal cancer, as well as from other causes. So, can White Mean Chicken shorten your life span?

But before you toss your chicken out the window—or roll your eyes and dive back into that chicken Caesar salad—take a moment to look at the study’s findings. 

Can White Meat Chicken Shorten Your Lifespan?

A recent study published in Nutrients looked at the dietary habits of 4,869 individuals from southern Italy, all part of extensive long-term cohort studies. These participants willingly completed surveys about their diets and lifestyles. 

Spanning from 2006 to 2024, the study gathered insights into their meat consumption, specifically red and white meats, while researchers monitored the causes of death among those who passed away.

The findings revealed that individuals consuming over 300 grams (just over 10 ounces) of poultry each week faced a 27% higher risk of mortality compared to those who limited their intake to under 100 grams (around 3.5 ounces) of chicken or poultry weekly. This risk escalated for those exceeding the 300-gram mark, affecting all causes of death, including cancers and heart disease.

Moreover, participants who consumed more than 300 grams of white meat weekly more than doubled their risk of dying from gastrointestinal cancers when compared to those who ate less than 100 grams.

Do Men Have a Higher Risk from White Meat Chicken Than Women?

Interestingly, researchers discovered that the risk of digestive cancer actually rises with the amount of white meat consumed, and it turns out to be higher than the risk associated with the same amount of red meat.

This risk appears to be more pronounced in men than in women; for instance, men who ate over 300 grams of poultry each week were found to be 2.6 times more likely to succumb to digestive cancer compared to those who kept their intake below 100 grams.

“Our findings indicate that men face a greater risk than women of dying from gastrointestinal cancer when consuming the same amount of poultry,” the authors noted.

Researchers speculate that this disparity may be linked to sex hormones, particularly the role of estrogen in women, which could affect how the body processes nutrients and develops certain diseases.

Also Read: Perfectly Baked Chicken Tenders

Expert Opinion

This study does appear to contradict earlier research, which suggested that opting for white meat over red meat could offer better protection against gastrointestinal cancers. However, there are some limitations to this type of study, according to Theresa Gentile, MS, RD, CDN, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

“This study found an association, not a direct cause, between higher poultry intake and increased mortality, especially from gastrointestinal cancers. It doesn’t mean poultry causes cancer,” Gentile says. 

Can Cooking Method and Processing of Chicken Have an Impact on the Health Quotient?

“There is a lack of data on the cooking method of the chicken,” Gentile says. “Chicken cooked at high temperatures, like grilling, barbecuing, or frying, can create heterocyclic amines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which are compounds known to increase cancer risk.”

Highly processed chicken can have an impact as well? “Even though the study participants were following a Mediterranean diet, it’s very possible some of the chicken eaten was processed, which is high in sodium, preservatives, and saturated fats, which are linked to worse health outcomes,” Gentile opines. 

Also Read: Top 10 Worst Fast Foods in USA

Poultry in Motion—or Commotion? The Chicken Study That’s Ruffling Feathers!

The recent study has stirred the pot by linking high consumption of white meat—especially chicken—to a rise in certain health risks. But before you toss out those chicken sandwiches for good, keep this in mind: just because two things are related doesn’t mean one causes the other. 

The research highlights potential dangers when white meat is eaten in excess or cooked in unhealthy ways (think fried, processed, or loaded with salt).

So, what’s the smarter approach? Don’t freak out—just adjust. Cut back on how much chicken you eat, opt for healthier cooking methods (hello, grilled and baked!), and fill your plate with plenty of veggies, legumes, and whole grains. 

It’s not about eliminating chicken; it’s about ensuring it doesn’t take over your meals. Ultimately, it’s the overall pattern of your diet—not just the meat on your plate—that influences your long-term health.