Chicken Feet: Why you need them in your diet.

A file photo of chicken feet ready for cooking.

Eating chicken feet may sound gross to you but it is a delicacy with the Asians especially the Chinese, Vietnamese, Filipino, and Korean.

To the low income families, the feet are eaten ‘to avoid wasting any edible parts of the chicken’.

What is so special about chicken feet?

Most of us are familiar with the health benefits of homemade bone broth (soup) and why it should be everyone’s ‘bread and butter’. Bone broth has for centuries been known to aid in joint health, immunity, gut health, and more.

Nutrients are pulled from the bones and cartilage, slowly swirling into a liquid gold – rich in vitamins, minerals, and feel goodness.

Collagen.

A research by the Department of Animal Science of National Chung-Hsing University in Taiwan showed that chicken feet contained lots of collagen. Collagen is the ingredient for youthful-looking skin.

Collagen is simply a protein that acts as a glue that ‘holds our body together’. The benefits are not only for the skin but also for the heart and can even improve athletic performance.

Bone marrow carries oxygen to our cells. Collagen builds the cells in our brains and bones. It rebuilds damaged cells in our intestines.

Other benefits of taking collagen include:-

1.         1.  Healthier and younger-looking skin.

2. It is rich in calcium and protein, without the carbohydrates.
3. It improves blood supply by strengthening the blood vessels.
4. Assist the body in metabolizing fats, therefore good for weight loss.
5. Slows the effect of arthritis.
6. Reduce pain and swelling (inflammation).

Stewed chicken feet served with rice.

Most collagen, or collagen supplements, are expensive. The other sources for collagen is from bovine, pig and marine fish but the production cost from these sources is very expensive.

Chicken feet are also a good source of hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate. Hyaluronic acid is touted as the fountain of youth - it can prevent the effects of aging. Chondroitin sulfate on its part is good for osteoarthritis so it is good for people with joint problems.

Minimising Arthritis.

Chicken feet consists of bones, skin, and tendons, but no muscles. These are packed with protein, calcium, collagen, and cartilage that are easily absorbed by the body. These are the essential nutrients required for good joint movement to minimise arthritis and joint pains.

Beauty Products.

BioCell Collagen, an American product that promotes younger-looking skin and active joints, makes their collagen peptide complex from chicken feet cartilage.

How to prepare chicken feet for cooking.

Cleaning chicken feet is quite easy but if this is your first time, it can be a bit awkward. Follow the following steps and you will soon be an expert!

1. Wash chicken feet thoroughly
2. Next, rub them with salt to remove any stubborn stains
3. Then scald the chicken feet in boiling water for about 3 minutes
4. Let it cool before you peel the yellow membranes on the feet
5. Using either a sharp knife or a kitchen scissor, chop off the tip of the claws/nails

The chicken feet are now ready for cooking.

NB: We peel chicken feet first because chickens (naturally) get poo and dirt on their feet and secondly the skin can tend to give the stock a bit of an ‘off’ taste.