Are Gyros Healthy? Difference Between Gyros And Shawarma?

In this article, we will explore if gyros are healthy for you. Greeks were the first to cook gyros with pork long before in history.

But as pork increases the cholesterol in the body. Therefore, the consumption of pork gyros is avoided in many countries. The chicken and lamb gyros are the best substitute for pork. 

Does Pork Increase Cholesterol Level In Your Body?

In addition, chicken and lamb meat is a source of high-quality protein, calcium, and fiber. Therefore, chicken and lamb gyros are widespread in the world.

They are preferable not only for the high amount of protein and nutrients but also contain fewer calories. 

Gyros, A Brief Description

The origin of Gyros goes back to many countries such as Athens, Greece, Turkey, and America. During World War II, Athens used lamb meat for the first time in Gyros.

However, in Greece, they cooked Gyros with pork, and in America, people changed the course and used chicken in cooking gyros.

Although they are delicious street food, they are healthy or unhealthy for you, depending on the meat used in the formation. Greeks generally used pork for serving gyros, and Turkish took it like Doner Kebab. 

In the Middle East, Arabs often misunderstood it as shawarma. However, In Athens, people used lamb meat In Gyros.

Gyros are cooked after chopping meat to thin and roasting it on a vertical spit. In addition, people use onions, cucumber, and creamy tzatziki sauce.

All the ingredients are served with the wrapping of Pita bread. In the rest of the article, we will explore whether Gyros are healthy for you depending on your age and other health factors.

Gyros Calories Content 

The calorie content of gyros is light. Using the meat with the salad makes it a low-carb and low-calorie delicious dish. On average, 1-serving gyro contains 350 to 500 calories.

Gyros is considered a healthy diet for its low carbs, high protein content, and sufficient numbers of calories that do not make you fat.

But a regular intake of a high protein and a low-carb diet may not be healthier for you. However, the calorie intake varies accordingly as per the meat used. 

Here, this section will explore the nutrients your body extracts from Gyros. 

The Meat

The lamb and chicken meat used in Gyros contains a high amount of protein and is sufficient for providing a high protein to your body.

On the other hand, if you use pork in the formation of Gyros, it increases the amount of cholesterol in your body, and its regular consumption can cause heart and blood pressure problems.

However, lamb and chicken meat contain 0 carbs and 0 sugar to provide sufficient calories to the body to regulate the increase in weight. 1-serving Gyros delivers 25% of protein for your daily protein requirement, which is 65 grams per day. 

Tzatziki

In many Greek dishes, tzatziki is used for dipping food. Tzatziki is a white sauce made of yogurt, cucumber, garlic, salt, olive oil, and mint. The nutrients information of tzatziki provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is such as; 

Besides the above information, tzatziki contains a good amount of Vitamin A and vitamin C, which are essential for the eyes and bone formation. Intake of tzatziki enhances heart health and bodily metabolism. 

Lamb Meat And Nutrition Facts

Lamb is the red meat of young sheep under the age of 1 year. However, mutton is the meat of sheep above 1-year of age.

Lamb is iron, calcium, and protein-rich meat that people in Turkey and Saudi Arabia commonly consume.

Rich in high-quality protein, lamb meat is healthy for heart and blood pressure issues. Moreover, it also enhances muscle mass and physical performance. 

100 grams of roasted lamb contain 

Other than that, it also contains zinc, Vitamin B12, and iron sufficiently. 

Pita Bread

Pita bread is famous in middle eastern countries. However, now it is spread globally. Pita bread is thick, chewy, and like a hand, pocket to store fillings.

In the middle-east countries, it is flat bread baked with flour. But it is different in shape and size in various countries.

Fiber and protein-rich pita bread have plenty of health benefits. 1-piece of pita bread contains 6g of protein and 6 gm fiber. 10% of your daily intake of vitamin B is present in one pita bread.

Along with having an abundance of nutrients present, Pita bread is a low-calorie grain. One round piece of pita bread contains 170 kcal. 

Chicken Gyros 

The substitute for lamb gyro is the chicken gyro made up of chopped chicken added with salad and tzatziki.

However, the nutrition benefits depend on the ingredients used. A typical chicken gyro contains a good amount of fiber, protein, and calcium.

The best part is that it is highly nutritious and has only 350 calories per serving. The combination of chicken and vegetables makes it one of the most nutritious and delicious foods.

Chicken gyro has fewer nutrients than lamb gyros, but it is the most widespread spot food in America and many countries. 

Is Gyro Healthy For You?

As we know, being on a diet now you can also enjoy delicious food, gyro.

It is a highly nutritious meal that comprises zinc, calcium, amino acids, protein, fiber, and many other healthful nutrients at a very low calorie and carbs. The low calories, sugar, and carbs restrict weight gain. 

Niacin

Niacin is a vitamin B in meat, eggs, poultry, and fish. It helps to break the carbs down to manifest the energy in the body.

Niacin improves body functions by lowering cholesterol, comforting arthritis, and boosting brain functions. So this is how gyro provides niacin to your body. 

Zinc

We all know zinc is beneficial to health and mainly for men. In men, zinc consumption increases the testosterone level and improves the quality of physical being.

It is also a crucial nutrient for your immune system. Zinc empowers the immune system to fight against invaders and disease. 

Calcium

Calcium is a meat-filled gyro that enhances bone health, blood circulation, and nerve transmission. It is one of the essential elements in your body to strengthen body metabolism.

The lamb and chicken gyro contain enormous calcium that keeps the body at its best and prevents diseases. 

Conclusion 

The present time, Gyros are the best street food in many countries. Not only because they are delicious, but full of nutrients.

However, they are of different size, shape, and taste depending on the region and meat used. Gyros are one of the most widespread meals worldwide.

Lamb meat, as we know, is full of protein and calcium, which improve many health issues such as heart problems, blood pressure, and cancer.

But regular and frequent meat consumption can also pop up as side effects.

As healthy weight gain and loss depend on calorie intake, you can decide if gyros are for you. We hope this article has provided you with all the information related to gyros and nutrient information.