Can You Eat Chicken Skin?

Can you eat chicken skin?

In this short article, we have provided an answer to the question, “Can you eat chicken skin?”. Moreover, we will discuss whether eating chicken skin is a good idea or not, the nutritional contents of the chicken skin, the health benefits and the dangers associated with eating chicken skin.

Yes, you can eat chicken skin. Eating chicken skin has been associated with several health benefits. It contains healthy unsaturated fats that are beneficial to the heart.

Additionally, cooking chicken with the skin on keeps the chicken moistened and more flavoursome, this means you will have to add less salt content and also you will not need to coat it at all.

However, the key is to consume in moderate amounts. That is because chicken skin and meat possesses higher omega-6 fatty acid content as compared to other meats, which can aggravate inflammation in the body.

The health benefits of chicken skin

As you must have known that chicken skin largely consists of fat. But, the fat found in chicken skin is not the saturated fat as found in animal foods, which can increase the cholesterol level and the risk of heart disease when consumed in excess.

Instead, the majority of the fat content in chicken skin is unsaturated fats that are healthy for the heart, as proposed by the Harvard School of Public Health.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), National Nutrient Database states that 1 ounce serving of chicken skin comprises about 3 grams of saturated fat and 8 grams of unsaturated fat.

Besides, cooking chicken with the skin on helps to keep the chicken moistened and delicious as suggested by the Harvard School of Public Health. Therefore, if you want to avoid dry and tasteless chicken, consider cooking chicken with the skin.

Eating a plateful of chicken with its skin provides you with 2.5 grams of saturated fats and 50 calories.

It is abundant in healthy fats

There are two types of fats- the unhealthy ones that are harmful to our arteries and the heart and cause a tremendous increase in weight, and then there are the healthy fats, which are good for various body functions. However, they must be consumed in controlled amounts.

It is an excellent idea to get rid of a low-fat diet

If you aim to lose weight, it is likely you would not want to consume a low-fat diet. A low-fat diet is characterized by higher carbohydrate levels, and leads you to feel less satisfied and constantly looking to eat, even though your next meal time has not yet arrived.

This increased rate of eating coupled with high carbohydrate content leads to increased weight, rather than weight loss.

It contains Omega 9 fatty acids or oleic acid

Omega 9 fatty acid is a mono-unsaturated fat that promotes the synthesis of high-density lipoprotein or good cholesterol, which serves to regulate glucose sensitivity. This oleic acid is also present in olive oil.

It is the best part of the whole chicken

Interestingly, the skin of a properly cooked chicken is possibly the best part of the entire chicken. Chicken when cooked with the skin on will be tender, juicy and delicious as the skin encloses all the moisture within the chicken and makes the chicken moist.

Not all saturated fats are bad

Saturated fats are not necessarily harmful as long as they are consumed in moderate amounts. That is because these unhealthy fats play a role in controlling bone density and regulating the hormones and immune system.

It is only when you eat high amounts that will lead to the production of low-density lipoprotein or bad cholesterol, that our body does not want in higher amounts.

The dangers associated with eating chicken skin

The main disadvantage of eating chicken with skin is that it adds further calories and saturated fat to your diet. It has been reported by the USDA that one cup of cooked chicken breast excluding the skin holds 231 calories, however one cup of cooked chicken breast with the skin intact provides 276 calories.

Since a large amount of fat in chicken skin is unsaturated fat, the skin does contain 3 grams of saturated fat per ounce, which is the equivalent amount as present in one cup of cooked chicken breast.

It has been recommended by the American Heart Association to limit saturated fat in the diet to 5 or 6 per cent of your total daily calorie intake, which equals to around 13 grams of saturated fat daily when consuming 2,000 calories.