Is pork eating bad for your health?

Eating pork is not bad for health, as long as it is well cooked, because proper cooking prevents the transmission of cysticercosis, a disease that can reach the nervous system and cause seizures and mental problems.

In addition, this type of meat is rich in good (unsaturated) fats, heart-healthy, and contains less cholesterol than beef, being a good choice in a balanced diet.

However, care must be taken in cutting the meat because pieces such as bacon and ribs are high in fat and therefore not recommended in a weight-loss or weight-maintenance diet.

Understand when pork is bad

Although pork does not harm to health, it should not be consumed in excess, especially the fatty parts of the animal. Like all red meat, the ideal is that this meat is consumed only about 2 to 3 times a week because over time it increases the risk of heart problems. See other 5 reasons to eat less red meat.

How to choose the best pork

It is important to choose pork of known origin, preferably industrialized, in which the animals are in controlled health to avoid the transmission of diseases.

In addition, you should prefer cuts with less fat, such as steak and loin, and avoid the very fatty parts of the pork, such as bacon, bacon, ham and ribs.

How to prepare meat in a healthy way

To prepare the pork you should prefer lean cuts and remove all visible fat before preparation, as the cooking causes the fat to penetrate the meat, increasing the calories.

It is also important to prefer cooked or baked preparations, avoiding frying and the use of greasy sauces, such as white sauce and barbecue. In addition, it is not necessary to wash the meat before preparation because the water does not eliminate the contamination by diseases, only making that important nutrients of the food are lost.

Grilled steak recipe with yogurt and herbs

While choosing lean meat, such as loin, may seem to have less flavor, they can be prepared by following recipes like this that help accentuate the flavor without harming your health.

This recipe gives up to 4 people:

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil;
• 1 tablespoon tomato sauce;
• ½ tablespoon ground cumin;
• Lemon juice;
• 1 clove garlic, crushed;
• Pinch of pepper;
• 500 grams of pork loin, trimmed and without fat;
• Salt and pepper;
• Sesame seeds;
• Fresh parsley;
• 1 teaspoon of honey;
• 2 tablespoons mint and chives;
• 85 grams of natural yogurt

How to prepare

Mix the olive oil with the tomato sauce, the cumin, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, the garlic, the pepper, the salt and the pepper in a bowl. Put the chopped pork loin into the mixture and wrap well. Cover the bowl and let the meat rest in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.

To prepare the sauce, mix 2 tablespoons of lemon juice with honey and yogurt. Finally, add the mint and the chives and season with salt and pepper.

To cook the meat, remove from the refrigerator 15 minutes before and then broil with a little olive oil, turning aside every 10 or 12 minutes. Pour the grilled meat into a dish and let it cool down completely. Then place the sauce on the meat and serve.

Nutritional table of pork cuts

The nutritional information for 100 grams of each cut of pork is:

Can pregnant women eat pork?

Pregnant women may eat pork normally, and should only be careful with the origin of the meat, to avoid the consumption of animals contaminated with cysticercosis.

Another important care is to eat meat that is always well cooked or well roasted, since proper cooking eliminates cysticercosis, as well as carefully washing vegetables that are to be eaten raw, as they may also be contaminated. Here's how to prevent cysticercosis.

Get to know the myths and truths about red and white meats to make the best choice for your health.