European Union Forums

[Lorry]

For years chicken has been the white meat preferred by many people and for good reason: It's naturally low in fat, fairly tasty and a good source of vitamins and minerals. But a study by Duke University showed that lean pork could be just as effective as chicken in helping to lower LDL ("bad") cholesterol. Which meat is better and more healthy and which isn't, rate it.

[M.Helen]

Pork has become lately one of the foods most loved and consumed, despite harmful effects. Some people consider pork a healthy alternative to beef, but experts warn that this culinary option require special precautions: pork could threaten the health condition or cause death.
So what is reality? Pork is one of the foods from which we should stay away?

[M.Helen]

Unprocessed pork is low in sodium chloride and has a rich protein content. Is also a good source of vitamins and minerals needed for a healthy body: iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and zinc, and a series of group B vitamins such as vitamin B6, B12, nicotinic acid, thiamine, riboflavin.

Protein
Pork is a wonderful source of protein. A serving of 100 grams meat provides about half of the daily requirement of an adult.

[M.Helen]

Fats
- Fat content of pork depends of the part of which comes from, the "weakest" meat is which contain 6 g of fat per 100g of meat;
- Pork contains more unsaturated fat than saturated fat;
- Pork contains conjugated linoleic acid, considered by experts as a good ally of the body against cancer or cardiovascular disease;

Useful tips to prepare meat:
- Before cooking, it is recommended to remove the fat parts from the piece of meat;
- The recommended dietary methods of meat preparation, such as grill, frying without oil, boiling;
- Pork should be consumed in reasonable portions, portion of 100 grams is recommended.

[M.Helen]

Zinc
- By consuming 100 grams of pork, you ensure 30% of the daily demand for zinc;
- According to studies, people who exclude meat from diet of any type, face shortage of zinc;
- Iron, zinc and vitamin D contained in red meat is better absorbed by the body, unlike other foods that contain them;
Iron
- Pork is a good source of iron for the body and is recommended to be inserted in the diet, in the case of anemia (with iron deficiency);
- A 100-gram portion of pork provides 15% of the daily iron;

[M.Helen]

Consumed in moderation, pork is a good source of energy, with beneficial effects on skin, eyes, nervous system, bone and mental performance. By the content of essential antioxidants, pork provide better immunity to the organism.

Nutritional value of 100 grams
Energy 1.013 kJ (242 kcal)
Fat 13.92 g
Gr 5230 g saturated
Gr monounsaturate 6190 g
Gr 1200 g polyunsaturated
Protein 27.32 g
Aspartic acid 2512 g
Glutamic acid 4215 g
Water 57.87 g
Vitamin A 2 mg (0%)
Vitamin B6 0464 mg (36%)
Vitamin B12 0.70 mg (29%)
Vitamin C 0.6 mg (1%)
Calcium 19 mg (2%)
Iron 0.87 mg (7%)
Magnesium 28 mg (8%
Phosphorus 246 mg (35%)
Potassium 423 mg (9%)
Sodium 62 mg (3%)
Zinc 2.39 mg (24%)

[M.Helen]

Risks to health
Uncooked, pork can be carriers of parasites or diseases dormant. Served after removal of the parties full of fat and cooked without being fried in oil, pork fat is low; on the opposite, the consumption of parties full of fat is a risk factor for cholesterol because of rich content saturated fat.

Pork and Trichinosis infection
Pigs have the reputation of dirty animals, for being prone to infections caused by parasites - trichinae. Trichinae is a tiny worm that lives in muscle and can cause disease - in humans, by consumption of pork - a parasitic disease called Trichinosis - the main risk of consumption of pork.

[M.Helen]

Globally, over the past 10 years, diseases caused by consumption of pork has dropped significantly, in 2007, only 7% of the problems caused by food have been related to consumption of pork. In terms of trichinellosis infection, the Center for Disease Control reported in the period of 1997-2001 an average of 12 cases reported annually.
Romania ranks the 1 among incidents recorded in the EU, the situation caused by lack of awareness of the population - the application of prevention and control measures.

[M.Helen]

Signs and symptoms:
Most infections are asymptomatic and there aren't complications, in contrast, serious infections are dangerous for health.
The main symptoms are:
- Diarrhea, nausea, shortness of breath - in the first days after infection;
- Abdominal pain;
- Headache, fever, coughing, tearing, aching muscles - when the worms migrate in the body;

[M.Helen]

The most serious complications are when the worms penetrate the central nervous system, where, although can not survive, can cause significant neurological deficits (eg ataxia) or even death. To prevent infection with trichinoses is recommended cooking pork to a temperature of 76 degrees Celsius (170 degrees Fahrenheit) also, was proved, that by freezing the meat for at least 20 days, the parasite can be killed.

[M.Helen]

Taenia solium
Pig is a carrier of a variety of intestinal parasites among the most common is Taenia solium, a species of payments worms; the serving of uncooked or poorly cooked meat, these parasites can transfer to humans, causing a parasitic disease.
The main symptoms of this disease are:
- Diffuse abdominal pain (localized especially in epigastrium);
- Loss of appetite and weight loss;
- Persistent migraine;
- Nausea, vomiting;

In severe cases, can cause intestinal obstruction - when tenia is very long, seizures - when the larvae migrate to the brain and many other complications and health problems. Taenia solium infestation can be prevented through health testing of meat and heat preparation before consumption.

[Martin]

i like chicken because it is more tasty and healthy. You will never have digestion problems if you will eat just chicken you will feel better, it more easy for the stomach to consume it. I know very many people who would like chicken, not pork because for its taste.