Les Jones

Food & Drink > Study: Fried Chicken Beneficial to Health

Bojangles chicken is returning to Knoxville after a long absence. The chain that's known for their spicy chicken and "dirty" rice is opening a new store on Lovell Road north of the interstate. An anonymous source who asked to be identified by the initials "LJ" said he believes the store will be open by summer.

The new Bojangles is part of a nationwide trend of increased fried chicken consumption following new research that fried chicken is actually good for you. In a November, 2006 study published in the Kentucky Journal of Medicine, Dr. Leslie Jones found that patients who consumed at least one fried chicken meal a week had lower cholesterol, less body fat, and a lower incidence of respiratory problems. Other scientists have replicated his results and found them "finger-lickin' good."

Southerners have long known of the beneficial effects of fried chicken. Colorful local character "Colonel" Jes Lones likes to say that "Chicken puts hair in your heart and a song on your chest." The Chinese believe fried chicken was the secret to the success of General Tso's troops.

Les Jones covers the fried chicken beat for the Knoxville News-Sentinel. He can be reached at legandbreastman@knoxnews.com. Staff reporter L. Jones also contributed to this report.