As the saying goes: "Give up the pig, give up the cow, but never the chicken head." Many people consider chicken heads, duck heads, etc. to be a delicacy. But have you ever heard this old saying? ——"A ten-year-old chicken head is like arsenic." So, is the "chicken head" edible or not?
From a nutritional perspective, chicken heads and duck heads do not contain better nutrients than other parts of the body, and the brain marrow of chicken and duck brains contains more cholesterol. Secondly, in the process of pecking, chickens ingest a lot of substances containing harmful heavy metals. These heavy metals are mainly stored in the chicken's brain tissue. The older the chicken, the more it stores, and the stronger the toxicity. This is the origin of the saying "A ten-year-old chicken head is like arsenic." Of course, chickens and ducks raised nowadays are not very old, but it is still better to be cautious when eating the head.
What about fish heads and shrimp heads?
Modern scientific research has found that fish contain two types of unsaturated fatty acids, DHA and EPA. These two unsaturated fatty acids are very beneficial for cleaning and softening blood vessels, lowering blood lipids, and for brain health and anti-aging. The content of DHA and EPA in fish oil is higher than in fish meat, and fish oil is relatively concentrated in the fish head. In this sense, eating more fish heads is indeed beneficial to human health.
Under normal circumstances, there are no toxins in the fish head, and eating it is safe. However, due to the deterioration of the overall environment in recent years leading to the pollution of water bodies and the ecological food chain, coupled with some aquaculture operators adding chemicals to feed, it can increase harmful substances in the fish body, which are difficult to expel and may accumulate in the fish head. To ensure food safety, consumers should try to buy fresh fish and other aquatic products from regular, supervised markets. Additionally, when eating fish heads, go to regular restaurants and try not to order them from roadside stalls.
In addition, there are a large number of parasites in fish heads. Fish heads must be cooked thoroughly, and this is especially important when eating hot pot.