Pork: Good or Bad

February 14, 2015 By

Pork: Good or Bad

Pork

 

Trimming the Fat
If you’re looking for the healthiest pork options, you want lean cuts — tenderloin, loin chops and sirloin roast. Bacon and other fatty cuts are very high in artery-clogging saturated fat and cholesterol and not for everyday eating. Baked ham and lunch meat fall somewhere in the middle when it comes to fat and calories. Just like with other meats, pork is safe when cooked to the proper internal temperature (it’s 160F for pork).

Some folks are conscientious of the environmental impact of meats they eat. If that’s you, look for local and free-range purveyors of pork products — just like you would for chicken and beef. Local or free-range products may have a higher price tag, but you can offset the cost in other ways like committing to a meatless day once a week.

Nutrition Facts
Lean cuts of pork are high in protein, low in fat and have more B-vitamins (thiamin, niacin, B6 and B12) than many other types of meat. These vitamins play a role in a variety of body functions, including metabolism and energy production (that’s why we had it on our “energizing foods” list). For some perspective, let’s compare 3 ounces of cooked pork tenderloin to the same amount of cooked chicken breast — as you’ll see, they aren’t all that different:

Pork Tenderloin
Calories: 96 calories
Total Fat: 3 grams
Saturated Fat: 1 grams
Cholesterol: 48 milligrams
Protein: 18 grams
Iron 6%
Thiamin 45%
Niacin 30%
B6 27%
B12 6%

Pork also contains healthy doses of zinc and selenium.

Chicken Breast
Calories: 142 calories
Total Fat: 3 grams
Saturated Fat: 1 grams
Cholesterol: 73 milligrams
Protein: 27 grams
Iron 5%
Thiamin 4%
Niacin 59%
B6 26%
B12 5%

Chicken is also a good source of selenium.

Of course, what you choose to eat is always a personal decision. If you’re a pork fan, below is a collection of recipes you might want to try. If not, check out alternative meats like bison, which is also lean, or consider a more vegetarian-focused diet.

Pork recipes to try:

Read more at FoodNetwork

So, if you are wondering if Pork is the other white meat, if you get a good lean cut of pork it is better for you than chicken breast. That really is the other white meat!
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Five good reasons for eating meat

December 21, 2014 By

Five good reasons for eating meat

  1. Meat is a natural part of a balanced diet
    Meat is useful in ensuring a good balance of energy, protein, vitamins and minerals within the diet.
  2. Meat is a key source of protein
    Meat contains a number of essential nutritional elements – protein, for instance, has a high biological value.
  3. Meat protein is very useful when dieting
    When measured by energy unit, protein is more satisfying than carbohydrates and fat. As the availability of lean cuts is wider than ever, avoiding excess fat is quite easy.
  4. Meat is rich in vitamins
    Meat is a good source of vitamin D, which prevents osteoporosis. Additionally, meat contains a number of vitamins such as B1, B2, B6, B12 and niacin as well as iron.
  5. Meat is rich in vital minerals
    Meat makes a valuable contribution to a varied diet, including a number of minerals, particularly zinc and selenium.

(source)

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