T

meats

Turkey

9/ 10Excellent
Controversy: 5.3

Rated by 11 diets

9 approve1 caution1 avoid

The diets react (see scores below)

Approves9
Caution1
Disapproves1
Is Turkey Healthy?

Yes — Turkey is broadly considered healthy. 9 out of 11 diets approve it.

Nutrition Facts
Per 100g

Diet Ratings

KetoApproved

Turkey is a lean, high-quality protein with 0g net carbs and 20-25g protein per 100g. Excellent keto staple. Pair with fat sources to meet macro ratios.

VeganAvoid

Turkey is poultry (bird meat). Consuming it violates the core vegan principle of excluding all animal flesh. No ambiguity.

PaleoApproved

Turkey is unprocessed poultry meat, rich in protein and micronutrients, available to Paleolithic hunters. Contains no grains, legumes, or problematic additives when unprocessed.

MediterraneanCaution

Turkey is poultry, which the Mediterranean diet recommends in moderate amounts (once daily or a few servings per week). Turkey is leaner than red meat and acceptable, but it is not a core Mediterranean ingredient like fish or plant-based proteins. It fits the 'caution' category as an acceptable but non-primary protein source.

CarnivoreApproved

Poultry meat, animal-derived protein and fat source. Widely consumed by most carnivore practitioners. Slightly lower fat content than ruminant meat, but still a complete animal food.

Debated

Strict carnivore practitioners prioritize ruminant animals (beef, lamb, pork) for superior fatty acid profiles and exclude poultry, citing concerns about polyunsaturated fat ratios in birds.

Whole30Approved

Turkey is meat, which is explicitly allowed on Whole30. It is a whole, unprocessed protein source.

Low-FODMAPApproved

Turkey is a protein-based poultry with negligible FODMAP content. Contains no significant fructans, GOS, lactose, excess fructose, or polyols. Safe at standard serving sizes during elimination phase.

DASHApproved

Turkey is a lean poultry source lower in saturated fat than red meat. DASH emphasizes lean meats and poultry. Skinless turkey breast is preferred. Low sodium when prepared without added salt. Excellent protein source.

ZoneApproved

Turkey (especially skinless breast) is a lean protein source with ~26g protein per 3 oz serving, minimal carbs (~0g), and low fat (~1-2g for breast). It is an ideal Zone protein block building material. Dr. Sears explicitly recommends poultry as a favorable protein source. One of the most favorable protein choices for Zone.

Turkey is a lean poultry with lower saturated fat than red meat. Good source of protein, selenium, and B vitamins. Acceptable in moderation within anti-inflammatory diet. Less inflammatory than red meat due to lower arachidonic acid content.

GLP-1 FriendlyApproved

Turkey breast is an ideal GLP-1 protein: 26-35g protein per 3oz, very low fat (especially skinless breast), easy to digest, and highly nutrient-dense. Versatile, supports muscle preservation, and provides excellent satiety. Ground turkey (93% lean) is also excellent when prepared with minimal added fat.

Controversy Index

Score range: 19/10. Higher controversy = more disagreement between diets.

Consensus5.3Divisive

Diet-Specific Tips for Turkey

Keto 9/10
  • 0g net carbs
  • 20-25g protein per 100g
  • Lean (low fat, requires added fat)
  • No additives in plain form
  • Versatile preparation options
Paleo 9/10
  • Unprocessed meat
  • High protein
  • No grains or legumes
  • Ancestrally available
Mediterranean 5/10
  • Poultry (moderate amounts acceptable)
  • Leaner than red meat
  • Not core Mediterranean ingredient
  • Acceptable protein source
Carnivore 8/10
  • animal-derived
  • poultry
  • high protein
  • lower fat than ruminants
  • minimally processed
Whole30 9/10
  • Meat
  • Whole protein
  • No excluded ingredients
Low-FODMAP 9/10
  • protein-based food
  • minimal carbohydrates
  • no FODMAP-containing compounds
DASH 8/10
  • lean poultry (DASH core food)
  • low saturated fat
  • high protein
  • low sodium (unsalted preparation)
  • lower fat than red meat
Zone 9/10
  • Lean protein source (~26g per 3 oz)
  • Zero carbohydrate content
  • Low fat profile (especially skinless)
  • Explicitly favorable in Zone protein classifications
  • lean protein
  • low saturated fat
  • selenium
  • B vitamins
  • lower arachidonic acid than red meat
  • very high protein density
  • very low fat
  • easy digestibility
  • muscle-sparing
  • versatile preparation
Is Turkey Healthy? Diet Ratings & Controversy Score | FoodRef.ai