Chicken is a common dish on the dining tables of Chinese families, and many people have questions about eating chicken. So, what is the truth?
Which parts of the chicken should not be eaten?
Yang Li, a professor at the Graduate School of the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, pointed out that besides containing a large amount of fat, the chicken屁股 (chicken buttocks) also gathers numerous lymph tissues. The lymph nodes hide harmful substances such as bacteria, viruses, and carcinogens, so it is not recommended for consumption. The chicken neck is an area where glands are concentrated; it is best to peel off the skin and remove the small, visible bumps before cooking. Chicken skin has a high content of fat and cholesterol, which can easily lead to obesity and induce chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, high blood lipids, and diabetes. It is recommended that obese people and those with the "three highs" (high blood pressure, high blood lipids, and high blood sugar) peel off the skin and simmer it slowly in water separately. After it simmers into chicken oil, a small amount can be added to wontons, soups, etc., to achieve a seasoning effect. Chicken liver has a high cholesterol content, so it should be eaten in moderation.
Shrimp Ball and Chicken Skin Soup
Are free-range chickens more nutritious than broiler chickens?
Zhu Yi, an associate professor at the College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering at China Agricultural University, stated that in terms of nutritional supplementation, the nutritional difference between free-range chickens and broiler chickens is negligible. However, in terms of flavor and texture, free-range chickens that are foraged, eat leaves and insects daily, and have a longer growth cycle do have a better texture. However, from a food safety perspective, because free-range chickens are raised outdoors for a long time and their source cannot be traced, the safety risks are greater if not properly controlled.
Free-range Chicken with Mushrooms
There is no nutritional difference between frozen chicken and freshly slaughtered chicken.
Zhu Yi pointed out that there is no nutritional difference between frozen chicken and freshly slaughtered chicken. In the current rampant spread of bird flu, people must stay away from live poultry trading and on-the-spot slaughter to avoid contracting the virus. In addition, do not eat white-cut chicken with blood streaks.
Chicken with Potatoes
Is it better to eat a rooster or a hen?
Yang Li stated that in Traditional Chinese Medicine, roosters are considered to have a "yang" nature and have a strong warming and nourishing effect, making them suitable for patients with yang deficiency and weak qi. However, they are not suitable for patients with high blood pressure or cancer. Hens, on the other hand, have a "yin" nature, with a mild and slow nourishing effect, making them suitable for postpartum women, the elderly and weak, and those who have been ill for a long time.
Three-Cup Chicken
How to cook chicken to retain the most nutrients?
Yang Li pointed out that chicken meat is tender and suitable for various cooking methods. To maintain its low-fat advantage, it is best to choose lighter cooking methods such as white-cut chicken or clear stewed chicken. In contrast, fried dishes like crispy fried chicken, spicy chicken, and fried chicken not only lose nutritional value but are also high in calories, which is not good for your health. Adding different medicinal herbs to chicken soup can provide different health benefits. Adding ginger can nourish and strengthen the body, relieve colds, and improve the body's immunity; adding goji berries can gently supplement yang energy, help the body's yang energy grow, and resist the cold; adding ginseng or dangshen can treat weakness of the spleen and lungs, shortness of breath, and palpitations, enhance hematopoietic function, and improve a cold-sensitive constitution; adding astragalus can replenish qi and deficiency, and enhance the body's immunity.
Carrot, Corn, and Chicken Soup
How to choose the color of chicken when buying?
Li Xingmin, an associate professor at the College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering at China Agricultural University, told reporters that after a live chicken is slaughtered, the blood is drained, and the meat will turn pale. If the meat is red or black, the chicken is either sick or dead. Therefore, it is best to buy chicken with pale flesh when purchasing. There are also other ways to judge the quality of chicken. If the surface of the chicken is slightly dry, not sticky, springs back immediately after being pressed with a finger, and has no strange smell, it indicates that the chicken is relatively fresh. You can also identify water-injected chickens by looking at the wings. If you find red needle marks on the wings, it proves that the chicken has been injected with water. Squeeze the skin; if it feels noticeably slippery, it may also mean it has been injected with water.
Eight-Treasure Chicken Rolls
Does chicken contain hormones?
Zhu Yi stated that broiler chickens have been bred over a long period and grow very quickly, so there is no need to use hormones to speed up their growth. Moreover, if chickens are fed hormones, it would increase the burden on their cardiovascular system and liver, leading to death. Therefore, no manufacturer would feed hormones to chickens. However, even if chicken does not contain hormones, parents cannot let their children eat meat without restraint. Excessive meat intake and a diet that is too high in calories are the main reasons for childhood obesity and precocious puberty.
Diced Chicken with Chopped Chilies