Chicken skin doesn’t offer much nutrition

DEAR DR. GOTT: What nutrient is in chicken skin that is so valuable?

DEAR READER: I am not aware of any. Is there a possibility you misunderstood the person who indicated chicken skin contains nutrients? Could he or she have been referring to chicken cartilage, which is injected into joints for specific medical conditions?

Most nutritionists believe the skin of a chicken should be removed prior to cooking or immediately following. The skin of half a chicken contains about 280 calories, of which about 215 are fat calories. As you can see, a great portion of the calories in a chicken come from the skin. And there are countless medical conditions related to consuming fat.

The way a person prepares chicken is important in terms of nutrients. Meats that actually stew in their own juices will be higher in fat than those that are grilled. Similarly, using a rack so juices can drip away from meat will make for a more healthful meal.

I may be misdirecting you, but from my perspective, I would recommend that you not consume chicken skin on a regular basis. Enjoy the meat for its nutritional properties and forgo the skin.