Chinese medicinal cures have been touted for years
as some of the best homeopathic remedies ever created.
As early as the 13th century, black chickens were reported in China,
and have been used in Chinese medicine for well over 1,000 years.
Recently popular in American cuisine, the black chicken
is now considered a “superfood”.
The theory of “superfood” status for the black chicken is related to
the bird’s high levels of anti-oxidants. An anti-oxidant is a molecule
that slows down the oxidation of other chemicals in the human body.
Although oxidation is essential to human life,
antioxidants help to keep the process at a healthy level.
The specific antioxidant present in black chickens is carnosine.
Carnosine is a substance found in high concentrations in the human brain
and muscle tissues. This substance holds many antioxidant properties
which are currently being studied for their positive
effects in the fields of auditory, speech skills, motor development,
and opthamology. The levels of carnosine in a black chicken
are two times higher than those in traditional chickens.
Carnosine can also be found in turkey as well as supplements
offered at vitamin shops and nutrition centers.
Until recently the strange characteristics of the black chicken have rendered it
unpopular in European and American cultures.
The chicken is born with black bones, meat and skin
and is considered a bantam or miniature chicken.
Historically the chicken was eaten as a medicinal cure and is said to
have a positive effect on the yin, blood, lungs and stomach.
The chicken is most commonly served as a part of a stew
or soup cooked with other Chinese medicinal herbs
such as wolfberries and ginseng.
The taste of the black chicken is thought by some to be sweeter than that
of traditional chicken, while others claim they taste no difference at all.
The black chicken can be cooked is all the same fashions
as the traditional chicken, but some believe the coarser texture of the meat
leads toward stewing of the black chicken meat more frequently
than other cooking methods.
The black chicken is certainly the new kid on the block in the “superfood” market.
Its small size and unappealing looks will undoubtedly deter
some consumers from purchasing the product, but with plans
to increase the size of the chicken through interbreeding,
we will surely see this Chinese medicinal secret in mass distribution in no time.
Did you know there was such a thing as black chicken?
And I don’t mean as in dark feathers, but black skin,
bones and even internal organs. There are actually several black chicken
breeds in the world, especially in Asia, but the most popular
of all has to be the Chinese Silkie.
Silkies are beautiful birds, covered in fluffy plumage,
which is said to feel like silk, but underneath all that fluff they are far less attractive.
Their skin is a dark-bluish color, the flesh is dark beige
and the bones and some internal organs are pitch black.
Although in the Western world silkie chickens are sold mainly for ornamental purposes,
in countries like China they are considered a super food and are appreciated for
their deep, gammy flavor. Called “wu gu ji” or “black-boned chicken”,
the silkie has been prized for its medicinal value
ever since the seventh or eighth century. Chinese women consume it
after they have given birth to get a boost of energy,
but it’s also said to have a positive effect on the yin, blood,
lungs and stomach. Silkie meat is rarely roasted.
To take full advantage of its curative properties,
the Chinese mainly use it to make an amber-colored broth laced with ginseng ,
dried wolfberries and jujubes.
According to a genetic study published in 2011, the unique trait of silkie chickens,
known as fibromelanosis, is caused by an unusual genetic mutation
characterized as “a complex rearrangement that leads to
increased expression of Endothelin 3, a gene which is known for promoting
the growth of pigment cells”. The massive expansion of pigment cells
not only makes the skin and bones black,
but also causes dark internal organs. Another interesting thing about silkies
is their high content of carnosine, a naturally occurring peptide which is
sold as a dietary supplement. People take it to increase muscle mass,
ward of the effects of aging and alleviate diseases like diabetes or autism.
Studies have shown the black chicken is one of the richest sources of carnosine.
If you’re wondering how black chicken meat tastes,
most people say it’s no different than traditional chicken,
but some say it’s a little sweeter.
So, would you embrace the dark side and feast on the dark flesh of a silkie?
Source:
الرئيسية 
