Pork – sources, health benefits, nutrients, uses and constituents at NaturalPedia.com

Friday, June 23, 2017 by Tim Wesley

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service, Americans consume almost 50 pounds of pork each year. Pork is derived from pigs. It’s a red meat that is high in protein and essential vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. However, there are many misconceptions about pork and its impact on your health: it’s fatty and packed with cancer-causing agents. But is pork really bad for you?

List of known nutrients

Chromium
Copper
Cysteine
Folic acid
Glutamine
Iron
Lysine
Magnesium
Niacin
Pantothenic acid
Phenylalanine
Potassium
Riboflavin
Selenium
Vitamin B1
Vitamin B3
Vitamin B6
Vitamin B12
Zinc

Medical uses for pork

Contrary to what most people think, eating pork doesn’t solely cause cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, and strokes. The truth is, pork has healthful benefits because they are also a good source of nutrients. There’s no clear evidence that links pork directly to heart diseases.

Pork is packed with B vitamins (except folate). It has niacin, which helps lower triglycerides and cholesterol levels. Vitamins B6 and B12 remove homocysteine — a byproduct of biochemical reactions that increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. Eating 100 g of pork covers 70 percent of your recommended daily needs.

Nitrates and nitrites are present in pork. Although some people associate these to diseases like cancer, the two are actually found inside our bodies. In fact, you can find more nitrates in vegetables, like celery and lettuce. These are known to have major benefits for the heart. Dietary nitrates and nitrites can dilate the blood vessels and help lower blood pressure and even reverse angina.

Since it’s packed with protein, pork is essential in tissue and muscle growth and repair. It’s high in vitamin B1, which is also helpful in repairing nerve tissues. Riboflavin, on the other hand, helps keep the skin looking good and healthy.

Furthermore, pork aids in maintaining healthy teeth and bones. It’s also helpful in the proper breakdown and absorption of fats, protein, and carbohydrates as well as maintaining a healthy nervous system. Those suffering from anemia can benefit from eating pork because it’s the best source of iron.

Pork is beneficial to your overall health as it helps boost the immune system, thanks to zinc, to keep it strong and resistant against disease-causing microorganisms.

Body systems supported by pork

Consuming pork is good for your body. You just have to make sure that you are eating lean pork. Remember that when trimmed of visible fat, pork can be healthy because it’s dense with nutrients. Some choice parts are even believed to be healthier than chicken.

The obvious health benefit of eating pork is muscle growth. Protein is essential to tissue growth and repair. When combined with iron, which boosts energy, health-conscious individuals can have a more fulfilling work out sessions and get the results they want. Eating pork can also boost brain function.

You’ll also be doing your teeth and bones a lot of good by eating pork on a regular basis. The same goes for those who have kidney problems. Pork is low in salt, so there’s no need to worry about damaging your organs. Also, when you consume pork on a regular basis, you produce more red blood cells, which carries oxygen to different organs of your body.

Most importantly, pork aids in boosting your immunity so you’re more resistant to microorganisms and toxins that cause illnesses like heart disease, diabetes, and even cancer.

Ways to use pork

There’s no denying that there are so many delicious ways to use pork — as main meals, in breads and pastries, salads, and even pasta — so you will never run out of ideas to enjoy this healthy meat. But in case you’re trying to be more creative, here are some easy pork recipes for you.