The pork industry has been advertising their product as “the other white meat” for many years to compete with chicken as a healthy alternative to red meat like beef. While rising beef prices and lingering health concerns about the consumption of red meat still keep some people away, pork does represent a good alternative that offers many health benefits. Here are seven of the top health benefits of including pork in your diet.
1. Fat
While fat has certainly gotten a bad rap with its link to heart disease, there is no question that a certain amount of fat in your diet is essential. Pork certainly contains fat, but it does not have as much as red meat, making it a good way to get the fat in your diet that you need without overdoing it.
2. Protein
Like fat, protein is another absolute essential in the human diet. Meat products are known for their high protein content, and pork provides plenty of protein without as much fat as red meat. Protein is especially essential for people looking to increase their muscle mass.
3. Healthier choices
There has been concern voiced by some experts about the chemicals that are used to prepare and preserve meats like pork. Both nitrates and nitrites may be linked with cancer, but the good news is that there are now pork products available that do not contain any nitrates or nitrites.
4. Vitamins
Pork packs a whole host of vitamins, and it is particularly rich in B vitamins. B vitamins are recognized for the benefits they offer the brain and may help ward off issues like depression and anxiety. B vitamins are one of the key concerns for many vegetarians since meat is such an important source, prompting them to take supplements.
5. Minerals
In addition to vitamins, pork also provides a number of beneficial minerals which include both zinc, phosphorus, and selenium. The combination of these three minerals help promote the growth of new cells in the body, boost the immune system, strengthen teeth and bones, and also help protect the walls of blood vessels.
6. Carbohydrates
As ideas change about what’s healthy, carbohydrates are coming under closer scrutiny by many medical researchers and health professionals. A reduction in carbohydrate intake is often recommended for people who are trying to lose weight or have diabetes.
7. Pork keeps hunger at bay
Protein is likely to stick with you a lot longer than many other foods. Although there’s no doubt that fruits and vegetables are some of the healthiest things you can eat, they just don’t keep you feeling full for very long. With its high protein content, eating pork will keep you feeling full longer and may help you avoid unhealthy snacks like those found in vending machines in the workplace.