This sounds like one of those typical headlines you often find under “Show more” on social media. But let’s do a quick fact check before we swap the pharmacy for the cooking pot.
It’s true that chicken gizzards (and especially the dried inner lining, the ventriculus primus galli) are valued in traditional Chinese medicine and folk medicine. But the claim that you no longer need any medication is a dangerous exaggeration.
Here’s an assessment of what chicken gizzards can actually do and where the limits lie:
What’s the truth? (The health benefits)
Anatomically speaking, chicken gizzards are pure muscle and nutritionally quite valuable:
High protein content: They are extremely high in protein and low in fat.
Mineral powerhouses: They provide significant amounts of zinc (good for the immune system), iron, and vitamin B12.
Digestive enzymes: In naturopathy, the yellow inner lining of the stomach is dried and used as a powder to treat digestive problems, bloating, or stones (gallstones/kidney stones), as it is said to contain enzymes that aid in the breakdown of food.
The correction: Why they are not a substitute for medication
Even though they are healthy, there are important points to consider:
Not a broad-spectrum remedy: A chicken gizzard cannot cure bacterial infections, regulate chronic heart conditions, or compensate for insulin deficiency.
High cholesterol: Offal such as gizzards is very high in cholesterol. Those who already struggle with their blood lipid levels should consume them only in moderation.
Purines: They contain many purines, which can be problematic for people with gout.
Conclusion
Chicken gizzards are an excellent, inexpensive, and healthy food (keyword: nose-to-tail eating) that can support digestion. However, they are a supplement, not a replacement for necessary medical treatment. Such “miracle cure” promises on the internet usually serve to generate clicks.
If you’d like to try them: In Asian cuisine, they are often braised for a long time until they are incredibly tender – definitely worth discovering!
Did you read this as a recipe tip, or was the article about a specific illness?