However, not everyone is suitable to eat this dish regularly. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), some groups of people should limit or avoid eating chicken head to protect their health.
First, people with gout or high uric acid levels should be cautious when eating chicken heads. Parts such as the head, neck, internal organs and poultry skin often contain higher amounts of purines than lean meat.
When purines are metabolized in the body, they will create uric acid, increasing the risk of acute gout attacks or making the disease worse. Gout patients prioritize lean meat and limit parts with high purine content.
Second, people with dyslipidemia, overweight or cardiovascular disease should also not eat a lot of chicken heads. The skin and fat tissues around the head contain quite a lot of saturated fat. Regular consumption in large quantities can increase cholesterol levels in the diet, adversely affecting cardiovascular health.
Third, elderly people with poor digestive systems also need to consider. Chicken head contains a lot of connective tissue, skin and cartilage, so it is more difficult to digest than belly or thigh meat that has been peeled off the skin. Eating too much can cause bloating, indigestion or feeling heavy after meals.
It should be noted that there is no reliable scientific evidence that the chicken head is a toxic or carcinogenic part as some rumors suggest. But eating it too often or consuming it in large quantities does not bring many outstanding nutritional benefits compared to other lean meats.
Therefore, people with gout, dyslipidemia, cardiovascular disease, elderly people with poor digestion and people sensitive to food poisoning should limit eating chicken heads, and prioritize a diverse, balanced and safe diet.
