Pork is a popular meat derived from…you guessed it…Pigs. This meat is widely known, and individuals around the globe consume approximately 100,000 tons of it annually.

It is sometimes confused as a white meat but it actually falls in the category of red meats with other popular varieties.

The high consumption of pork throughout the world, has allowed a thriving breeding program that has domesticated the wild feral pigs from a somewhat short heavy shouldered animal into many high yielding meat producing breeds with a leaner meat yield and an evenly shaped long body, allowing for nicer plump legs that are used in curing. Eg Parma Ham Prosciutto from Italy, the Serrano Ham from Spain and other specialties from various countries.

A few healthy points on Pork Meat…

Pork is high in vital vitamins, amino acid, and protein. These are all ideal components for a complete healthy diet. There are different parts of the pork meat, and they all have their diverse benefits to the human body. For example, when lean pork is trimmed with the noticeable fat removed, the nutrients becomes more dense.

This makes it highly satisfying for the healthy eating conscious person watching what the put into their bodies. The main cuts that are known for their leanness are: tenderloin, sirloin roast, loin chops and loin steaks. The last three are added to this group when the rind/skin and fat are removed. These cuts are actually regarded healthier than chicken because of their naturally increased protein content. Protein aids in the growth of our muscles, and it is also rich in minerals and vitamins. All these help our bodies in diverse ways such as fighting fatigue and tiredness, aiding the immune system to function normally and supporting the regular release of energy.

For those that are unaware, the fat available in pork is actually Trans fat-free. The fat is mainly poly and monounsaturated, and so, the trimmed pork is good for our health as it helps to lower cholesterol level.

Pork meat has an increased mineral content that includes the following;

• Selenium
• Potassium
• Zinc
• Sodium
• Phosphorus and;
• Copper

The major minerals which are available in the meat in essential quantities are none other than magnesium and iron. For manganese and calcium, they are found in small traces.

Additionally, pork meat is enriched greatly with;

• Thiamin
• Niacin
• Pantothenic Acid
• Riboflavin
• Vitamin B12
• Vitamin B6, and so on

Moreover, a few quantities of Vitamin E and Vitamin A can be traced in just a little amount.

Nutritional Basics Of Pork…

According to the National Heart, lung and blood institute, a serving of pork is roughly the size of a deck of cards or about three ounces (85grams). However, a thick pork chop can be double the size of three ounces and easily allow you to consume twice the amount of calories. There is a high possibility of getting 137 calories and four grams of fat just from the three ounces of a pork chop.

Subsequently, people believe that pork is the same as chicken. This is because three ounces of chicken breasts consists of 140 calories and about three grams of fat. The cholesterol of the pork chop is 65 milligrams.

When compared to the 72 grams in chicken breasts, both the chicken and pork have only one gram of fat that is saturated.

Pork Chop Boneless Nutrional Chart
Pork Essentials…

Some of the essential nutrients of pork that makes our body healthy are;

• Protein

Proteins are usually found in every cell in our body, and they actually add to the framework and maintenance of body tissues. Proteins deliver messages between cells, and they make our muscles contract.

The ideal pork chop makes available a large boost of full protein. While men get a total of 43 percent of the daily intake recommended for them, women gain 52 percent from the pork chop of three ounces.

• Vitamin B

With Vitamin B, our foods are metabolised into energy; they help build regular red blood cells and generate neurotransmitters. While a pork chop consists of all the Vitamin B, it does not have folate.

Nevertheless, vitamin B12 and B6 eliminates homocysteine by converting it to other beneficial substances.

• Zinc

A vital part of zinc is that it is needed for the building of new cells. This makes regular advancement and growth to rely on it on our diet. Though we all need zinc, for pregnant women, zinc is highly important.

It forms the framework of protein and backs our immune system. White blood cells will not be capable of destroying the pathogen if their is a deficiency in zinc.

Health Benefits Of Pork…

Some of the essential benefits of pork include;

• The vitamin b1 available in pork is of high quality. It is important for the development and repair of our nerve tissues and muscles. Vitamin B1 is also ideal for the metabolism of carbohydrates.
• Vitamin Riboflavin in pork aids in maintaining health and skin issues. It helps to repair the tissues that are damaged and also takes energy from the food we consume.
• The presence of vitamin B6 in pork meat aids in fat metabolism, carbohydrates, and protein. It also helps in keeping the adequate functioning of our nervous system.
• You should note that pork meat actually helps in generating red blood cells in our body.
• The iron found in pork boosts the energy production, and the iron from the meat is swiftly absorbed by our body
• Pork meat aids in keeping our bones in ideal shape and creates powerful bones, teeth and also keep an active check on the energy level of our body
• The zinc present in pork helps to enhance the immune system and boosts body resistance against diverse diseases.

Lean Pork Tenderloin Mini Roast

To Wrap It Up…

Basically, pork meat is an ideal source of protein and amino acid combined. It is also important for those of us interested in building our bodies and keeping us healthy. Pork meat is actually good for our nervous system, bones, eyes, skin, and overall, our mental operations.

Generally, the meat is highly nutritious and offers diverse, vital vitamins and minerals to the human body. As a plus, pork meat is an incredible tasting and very affordable source of protein that has high quality.

Another amazing thing about pork meat is that it gets us full on time. In essence, while vegetables and fruits are really healthy things to consume, they actually do not make us feel full for a long period.

Finally, pork meat will help us stay away from snacks that are healthy as they are sure to keep us satisfied at any point in time. So, as an advertisement campaign in Australia stated “Get Some Pork On Your Fork” and keep your body healthy.

If you’d like to see some of my pork recipes then CLICK HERE and if you would like to learn where some of the primal cuts come from, then see the Pork Cut Chart here. Additionally, if you would like to see how to break down a pork side, watch how a Master Butcher does it here.

I hope you gathered some useful information and feel free to leave a comment below and share my article.

Thanks John