Chicken wings are a fun day staple in many households. These little deep-fried pieces coated with crisp and tossed in a sweet and tangy sauce can lighten anyone’s mood. But have you ever wondered what these calorie bombs do to your body? Are chicken wings even healthy?
Well, the answer lies in the recipe. If deep-fried and coated with whatnot, they are obviously not healthy. But air-fried, steamed, or baked wings are super healthy and can be used to get due protein, fats, and some vitamins.
If you are wondering that why only chicken wings are being talked about? Well, you might not be, but the rest of the world is obsessed with them. Lying elbow deep in a heap of chicken wing bones they are now burping and probably planning to go for another round. That is how addicting chicken wings can be. But this addiction like all others comes at a cost. And here the cost can be your health.
Before going for your next plate of chicken wings you might need to consider all the health benefits and risks associated with them. Are chicken wings healthy? What is the right way to prepare them? Are there any healthy alternatives? I am here to answer it all for you.
Are Chicken Wings Healthy?
That is for you to decide, but I am here to weigh in all the pros and cons.
Health Benefits
Most of the health benefits of chicken wings reside in the chicken itself.
Nutrition
The main ingredient of chicken wings is obviously chicken and chicken packs a punch. It is the most commonly consumed source of protein. Chicken provides plenty of protein with relatively less fat, as compared to red meat.
One skinless and boneless chicken wing has almost 43 calories, 6.5 grams of protein, and 1.7 grams of fat. It provides 64% calories from protein and 36% from fat, with a negligible amount of calories from carbohydrates.
According to the USDA database, one boneless and skinless chicken wing contains the following micronutrients
Nutrient |
Amount |
Unit |
---|---|---|
Calcium, Ca | 3.77 | mg |
Iron, Fe | 0.255 | mg |
Magnesium, Mg | 6.38 | mg |
Phosphorus, P | 45 | mg |
Potassium, K | 56.3 | mg |
Sodium, Na | 23.5 | mg |
Zinc, Zn | 0.473 | mg |
Copper, Cu | 0.012 | mg |
Manganese, Mn | 0.005 | mg |
Selenium, Se | 5.16 | µg |
Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 0.348 | mg |
Thiamin | 0.017 | mg |
Riboflavin | 0.029 | mg |
Niacin | 2.13 | mg |
Pantothenic acid | 0.242 | mg |
Vitamin B-6 | 0.154 | mg |
Folate, total | 1.16 | µg |
Other Health Benefits
The health benefits and nutritional properties of chicken can not be underestimated. A properly cooked and treated chicken can be a part of any healthy diet. Some general benefits that chicken provides are.
- Increases the blood hemoglobin. The iron in chicken is responsible for producing more hemoglobin.
- Chicken can also help in building immunity.
- The protein in chicken is necessary for building and maintaining muscle mass.
- Enough protein can also improve your skin, hair and nails.
- Eating enough protein from the meat will help in the growth and repair of cartilage and other connective tissues.
- Chicken wings, being low in carbohydrates can help in maintaining blood glucose levels.
- Protein is neccesssary for recovery from injuries and surgical procedures.
Can Be A Part Of Different Diets
Chicken wings if made the right way can be a part of almost all healthy diets, except for the vegan diet. Chicken wings if baked and made without skin can be a part of a low-fat diet. If they are made with skin in butter, they can be used as a good keto food.
If you customize your chicken wings recipe according to your needs, they can fit in almost all simple and fancy diets.
The Harms of Chicken Wings
Mind you, that we do not bake our wings, but we coat them with thick flour coatings and throw them in deep fryers. Then toss them in sugary sauces, with heaps of sodium in them. The only healthy ingredient in these fried wings is the chicken.
High in Sodium
Chicken has little amounts of sodium in it. Then you add salt to your wings and then coat them in sauces, rich in sodium. Hence, the final dish contains loads of sodium. Excessive sodium can lead to water retention in the body. Sodium is the main culprit of high blood pressure. So it is wise to avoid these heaps of sodium and treat yourself with such wings occasionally.
High in Fat
The aforementioned nutrient content of chicken wings represents skinless chicken wings. Chicken wings, even without skin have enough fat. The skin adds extra fat, and to put a cherry on top we deep fry the wings. This makes the tiny wings loaded with fats and calories, which can lead to obesity. It is better to use wings without skin and to bake or roast them unless you are on a high-fat diet like Keto.
The Addiction
There is no denying that these calorie bombs are very addicting. Once you take a bite, there is no going back. No one can claim that they eat just a wing or two. Either it’s none of it or it is a bucket full of them. So it is better to leave them to a celebratory dinner or a cheat day.
The Healthiest Way To Use Chicken Wings
The health benefits and nutrients of chicken wings are decided by the recipe you choose. De-skinned chicken wings when baked or steamed provide hefty amounts of protein. But deep-fried honey barbecue wings are mere fat, rendering all the nutrients of chicken useless.
If you are addicted to chicken and find chicken wings to be an easy food to make, I advise you to toss them in the oven rather than in the fryer. With the developing technologies, we now have air fryers. These can be used to give you the taste of your fried wings and the nutrition of your baked wings.
Avoiding sugary or salty sauces is always recommended. It is better to season your wings with natural seasonings and spices.
FAQs
Are grilled chicken wings healthy?
Yes, grilled wings are quite healthy. They do not contain many calories or fat, making them perfect for a healthy diet.
Are chicken wings healthy bodybuilding?
Yes, chicken wings are a good source of protein making them suitable for a body-building diet. But boneless pieces like the chest have even more protein and less fat.
Are chicken wings good for weight loss?
Chicken wings if made the right way, can be really good for a weight loss diet.
Are chicken wings keto?
Chicken wings can easily be made keto-friendly. You just have to use them with skin, without extra coatings, and cook them in saturated fat.
How to make chicken wings?
The healthiest way to make chicken wings is to bake, broil, steam, or roast them. You should use natural seasonings and spices too.
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