For all our lives, we have heard that chicken skin is bad for our health as people say that it contains a lot of fats and will increase the cholesterol level in our bodies. Eventually, it will lead to health problems such as high blood pressure and heart problems.
Source: Simple Comfort Food
This belief has led many people to de-skin their chicken and totally omit it from their diets.
However, research now shows otherwise! According to Astro Awani, research by Harvard University shows that chicken skin has actual nutritional value and it will not cause the health problems that were previously stated.
According to reports, chicken skin fats are categorised as healthy fats, and they can potentially reduce high blood pressure and high cholesterols depending on your hormones.
Other than that, the calories in chicken skin are actually not that high and if taken in moderation, it will not fatten you up. In addition to that, if you de-skin your chicken before cooking it then it’s easier for the oil that you’re cooking it in to enter the chicken meat. By not de-skinning it, the chicken skin acts like a barrier against the oil.
Source: SCMP
According to SCMP, nutritionist at the Integrated Medicine Institute Sheena Smith has said that the main thing that makes chicken skin unhealthy is the way someone cooks it.
“If you dip chicken fat into batter and breadcrumbs and fry it, then you’re only adding meaningless calories and essentially, making it something unhealthy.”
However, it is best to note that chickens reared commercially are injected with hormones and antibiotics, and chemicals that were consumed by the chicken is stored in the fats. So, if consumed, this part of the chicken can be very unhealthy. If you know the origins of the chicken (from your backyard, a breeder you trust, etc.) then you can eat the chicken skin, but in moderation.
Well, this is certainly very good news! BRB, I’m gonna go tell my mother to keep the chicken skin on for dinner tonight!
Also read: Fatty Pork Announced as Top 10 Most Nutritious Food in the World
