What came first, the chicken or the egg? A question for the ages, or at least until everyone agrees that they don't care. But while scientists and lay people alike wrestle with this life cycle conundrum, we'll step aside and focus on a different question: Which is healthier?

All things considered, I feel the chicken is the clear winner of this battle. And, a recent piece in Maximum Fitness magazine on the health benefits of a five-ounce piece of skinless chicken helps support my decision. Here's the nutrient rap sheet on what a piece of chicken provides:

• 67 percent of RDA of protein, promoting muscle growth and the maintenance of muscle tissue
• 72 percent of RDA of niacin, which helps convert food into energy
• 32 percent of RDA of vitamin B6, an essential vitamin for forming hemoglobin for red blood cells
• 40 percent of RDA of selenium, an antioxidant which also prevents injuries to cells
• 8 percent of RDA of magnesium, which is necessary for the proper conversion of food to energy
• 7 percent of RDA of iron, which enables hemoglobin to carry oxygen to all body cells

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