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Question
08 Mar 2004
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Chicken Livers - nutritional value
Is the content of chicken livers bad for you? I always thought it was a good source of iron, and my nine month old baby loves them. Yet I am told by someone that they are full of junk and waste products. Can you enlighten me please?
DietDoc
Dear Polly
There are so many urban legends out there about foods, that I sometimes think we have not progressed beyond the Dark Ages! Chicken liver is an excellent food - rich in iron, vitamin A and fully available protein. Just make sure that you clean the livers well (soak in milk and discard the milk afterwards). Because they are so rich in iron and vit A and other nutrients you should use them in moderation for small children. Too much of a good thing can also have a negative effect. For example, if your child is taking a vitamin syrup which contains vit A, then eating chicken livers which are also a rich source of vit A could give cause hypervitaminosis (excess vit A intake). Moderation is always the key.
Best regards
DietDoc
There are so many urban legends out there about foods, that I sometimes think we have not progressed beyond the Dark Ages! Chicken liver is an excellent food - rich in iron, vitamin A and fully available protein. Just make sure that you clean the livers well (soak in milk and discard the milk afterwards). Because they are so rich in iron and vit A and other nutrients you should use them in moderation for small children. Too much of a good thing can also have a negative effect. For example, if your child is taking a vitamin syrup which contains vit A, then eating chicken livers which are also a rich source of vit A could give cause hypervitaminosis (excess vit A intake). Moderation is always the key.
Best regards
DietDoc
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