Why You Should Avoid Eating Pork

 It may come as a surprise how numerous religions and beliefs worldwide discourage or even outright ban the consumption of pork. The Bible (Leviticus 11:3) refers to pigs as “unclean,” while those of Jewish and Muslim faith are known to avoid eating pork entirely. However, regardless of whatever religion or beliefs one may abide by, there exist real, practical, and scientific reasons as to why people should steer clear of eating pork.

Life on the Farm

Realizing why pork can be bad for your body and its health can become easily obvious when you witness pigs in their natural, unfiltered element. Pigs are often found in unsanitary, if not outright filthy, conditions, living in any combination of dirt, mud, insects, waste and other unfavorable surroundings.

Pigs are also known to enjoy rolling in mud, partly in an effort to cool their body down due to the absence of sweat glands in their body (an important fact that contributes to the unhealthiness of pigs, which will be expounded upon later). Interestingly enough, dirty water and mud can be considered as the “clean” alternative to cooling the body down, because if a pig does not have access to these cooling instruments, it will often be forced to wallow and cool itself in its own waste and excrement. It is no surprise that the pens that pigs live in, better known as a “pigsties,” always refer to places that are unsanitary, unhealthy, and smell unfavorably.

Aside from living in rather dirty surroundings, pigs also have quite unhealthy diets. Pigs are known as the “scavengers” among the farm animals, and will eat whatever they have access to. Though it is true that farmers will provide pigs with their own grain and pig feed, this does not stop the pigs from eating any possibly harmful and unclean substance that can be easily found on a farm.

Such substances may include things such as excess or rotting food left behind by other animals, insects and bugs found on the farm, and, unfortunately, even the feces that animals just leave behind, including their own waste. The extent of what pigs eat stretches so greatly that they will even eat the decomposing bodies of dead animals, even if the animals had died from sickness and disease.

The indiscriminate eating habits of the regular pig wouldn’t be so bad, in fact, if pigs would at least be able to properly digest and filter away all of the toxins, bacteria, and other unhealthy components found in what they eat.  Regrettably, this, however, is not the case. In fact, it is almost the complete opposite, due to the fact that pigs actually have really simple, almost inadequate, digestive systems. As compared to a cow for example, an animal which can take up to a whole day to digest what it has eaten, a pig will digest its food in a matter of a few hours.

This presents a problem because the digestive process is expected to allow the body to filter and rid itself of any unhealthy components that can be found in food that is eaten, before the food is processed and more fully incorporated into the body. This means that the bacteria and other toxins that are constantly present in a pig’s surroundings and what it eats are relatively left untouched and unfiltered even as they become part of the pig’s body system. This undesirable state of affairs is made worse by the aforementioned fact that pigs are not able to sweat. Sweating is one of the ways in which a body can rid itself of unnecessary toxins. A pig’s inability to sweat signifies that, most likely, the pork that we eat would contain an appallingly high presence of chemicals, toxins, and bacteria.

Pork in Your Digestive System

Even if, for the sake of an argument, pigs are raised in a completely sanitary environment, eat only the proper food that pigs are meant to eat, do not have to cool themselves from the heat by wallowing in mud, and are, in addition, generally thoroughly supervised and inspected during the entirety of its life, one can still not avoid the fact that the pork that pigs provide is still teaming with numerous unhealthy and toxic substances that will negatively affect your body if consumed.

Due to the diet that pigs are fed, which is often high in oils and grains, pork often contains copious amounts of Omega 6 Fatty Acids. Now, though this might seem like a good thing, and it is true that Omega Acids are good for your body in general, too much of the Omega 6 Fatty Acid is actually harmful for your body. Unlike Omega 3 Fatty Acids, which the body can handle generous amounts of, the intake of Omega 6 Fatty Acids will need to have a much more stringently exercised degree of control and supervision.

Often, the body will already be given enough of Omega 6 Fatty Acids through a regular, pork-free diet, and pork will usually tip the scale too heavily. An excess of Omega 6 Fatty Acids will result in inflammation in our body, which can lead to obesity, cardiovascular diseases, Type 2 diabetes, arthritis, and liver disease. All in all, though Omega 6 Fatty Acids are good for your body, the amount that regular servings of pork in your diet provide will often result in more bad than good.

Aside from the possibly excessive amounts of Omega 6 Fatty Acids already found in pork, the act of processing and preserving pork is often aided by unhealthy chemicals and substances that can have an adverse affect on your body as well. One of the main components used in processing pork is sodium nitrate which, among other things, is used to give pork that deep red color, making the pork look fresher than it actually is.

However, these nitrates, which also become nitrosamines, have been known to be linked to an increased risk of developing cancer. The list of processed pork includes bacon, smoked ham, beef jerky, hot dogs, and other foods that have, unfortunately, become favorites and staples of many diets and meals. However, it becomes less difficult to give up these foods when you realize that in exchange for eliminating or reducing processed pork from your diet, you sharply decrease the risk of getting pancreatic, colorectal, and stomach cancer, among other types of cancer. To make the decision even easier, relinquishing processed pork from your diet also means that you greatly reduce the risk of suffering from obesity, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.

 With all of the evidence pointing to the fact that processed pork is bad for your body, a person who still insists on eating pork would think that fresh pork should be the way to go. Unfortunately, pork lovers aren’t going to catch a break with this one either, because even fresh pork has been documented to be just as unhealthy, and sometimes even worse, than processed pork. As mentioned earlier, the inadequate ability of pigs to digest its food and filter toxins from its body causes its body to act as a sort of breeding ground for viruses and bacteria, and this is even more true in the case of fresh pork. This is due to the fact that a certain pathogen that acts as a catalyst to numerous diseases is commonly found in fresh pork.

It is worth mentioning that all of these issues with eating pork already grant the assumption that the pork was cooked correctly and properly. Nevertheless, even when pork is adequately cooked, it is still difficult to ensure that most of the bacteria and pathogens found in it have been removed or rendered harmless. When pork is undercooked, there is the risk of acquiring a major illness called “trichinosis.” Trichinosis is an infection that can be acquired through eating undercooked pork that is host to trichina worm larvae.

Some of the symptoms of trichinosis include headaches, diarrhea, fever, nausea, vomiting, joint and muscle pain, and problems with breathing, all of which can go on for at least a few weeks. On the other hand, one also runs a risk of illness when overcooking pork, because exposing the meat to a temperature that is too high can result in the production of heterocyclic amines, which are also linked to the occurrence of cancer.

Unwanted Carriers?  

With all of the various and different sicknesses, diseases, and conditions that have already been mentioned, one should be able to come to the conclusion that eating pork is just not good for your health. Not only do pigs have numerous viruses and bacteria already naturally present in their body, they are also very vulnerable to getting other diseases and sicknesses from other animals.

The fact of the matter is that pigs have become very unwitting yet very able carriers of disease, so much so that these little pigs can actually create a global panic and pandemic. Only a few years ago, the world was rocked with the Swine Flu Pandemic, better known as the H1N1 of 2009. Though a vaccine for Swine Flu has been developed and the virus has been contained, the pandemic it caused just goes to demonstrate how unhealthy and possibly even deadly pigs can be. Other illnesses that pigs have been known to carry include the Hepatitis E virus, the Menangle virus, and the Nipah virus.

Now that you are well-informed, perhaps you will take the wise course and fittingly restrain yourself from, pardon the pun, “pigging out.”

If you find this article about pork useful, you can go to the next page and watch about the 4 Foods to Never Eat for Breakfast –

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About the Author:

Emma Deangela is the best selling author of The Alkaline Diet Program and 80/20 Fat Loss. She has helped over tens of thousands of men and women to lose weight and transform their health with sound nutrition advice.

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18 responses to “Why You Should Avoid Eating Pork”

  1. LAURIE ANN ZEDNICK Avatar

    AND TO THINK I LOVE PORK CHOPS! I HAVE TO FIND A CLEAN PIGGIE! OINK OINK

  2. MURRAY BARONICK Avatar
    MURRAY BARONICK

    THANK YOU for that very informative article. No more pork for me,

  3. Nancy Avatar

    This is one of those sad facts of life to face.

  4. elaie Avatar
    elaie

    I read the article, which goe on and on about how filthy pigs are , but you dont answer the most important
    “Does cooking kill the bacteria?”

  5. Rick Finnin Avatar
    Rick Finnin

    Obviously you have never been on a modern pig farm nor spoken with a swine nutritionist or swine veterinarian. The entire article is full of mistruths, myths and misinformation. I know dozens of PhD Swine Nutritionists who would attest that swine generally have a more balanced diet than most humans!

    You will not find any pig farmer allowing his pigs to “scavenge” nor live in slop.

    Pigs, like most non-primates, do not have sweat glands. But pigs, like dogs for example, use panting for thermoregulation.

    Trichinosis occurs more often from eating undercooked game meat than from pork. And, yes, handling and cooking pork will make it safe to consume. Just ask the billions of people who happily consume pork and live healthy, long and productive lives. When did you ever hear of someone suffering from trichinosis or check with the CDC how many cases of pork-derived trichinosis occur annually.

  6. Rick Finnin Avatar
    Rick Finnin

    I mis-wrote. I should have said “PROPER handling and cooking of…”

  7. Alton Avatar
    Alton

    A pig a day will keep the Muslim’s AWAY, and that is good enough for me !

  8. Tony Avatar
    Tony

    This is complete nonsense. If pig meat were so bad then humans who eat it would be getting ill all the time. Also H1N1 is *bird flu* not swine flu. If you can’t tell the difference between a pig and a bird then you shouldn’t be giving out diet advice.

    1. Monica Wolcox Avatar
      Monica Wolcox

      Why is the 2009 H1N1 virus sometimes called “swine flu”?

      This virus was originally referred to as “swine flu” because laboratory testing showed that many of the genes in the virus were very similar to influenza viruses that normally occur in pigs (swine) in North America. But further study has shown that the 2009 H1N1 is very different from what normally circulates in North American pigs. It has two genes from flu viruses that normally circulate in pigs in Europe and Asia and bird (avian) genes and human genes. Scientists call this a “quadruple reassortant” virus.

      Just sharing Knowledge is power. This information is from the Center of Disease Control

    2. Allie Avatar
      Allie

      H1N1 is swine flu, not “bird flu”/avian flu. Avian flu is H7N9. Be nice.

  9. Soja Avatar
    Soja

    I am 51 years old now. I ended up with type II diabetes and high blood pressure in 2003 and almost had a stroke. I was put on medication and I changed my diet a little, yet I still consumed all meat but in moderation. I started a exercise regimen. However, I lost about 40 lbs but I still had to take medication. One year at church, I participated in a Daniel Fast. No meat, dairy, sweets for 21 days. I lost 10 lbs. So I modified that diet and went vegetarian. Within a year I had no high blood pressure or diabetes. Doc took me off my meds and I haven’t popped a pill since 2010. I became a Vegan in Jan 2014 and now I don’t consume anything from an animal and I feel like awesome and I look over 15 years younger than my age. So I’m told.

  10. Dr. T Avatar
    Dr. T

    Thanks for the article, here is what I think:

    1- When you are talking about life of pigs in the farm, I think you are talking about pigs in developing countries and not in developed ones with modern pigs farms.

    2- When you talk about bacteria and viruses that pigs would carry I would appreciate if you have facts about the chance that a human being would be infected by ingesting them, every animal out there has bacteria and viruses but that doesn’t mean that if you eat that animal you get infected. Also when H1N1 “birds flu” started affecting human beings measures where taken to stop the infection but we did not stop eating chicken…..

    3- When you mention how unhealthy the pig’s meat is. I would rather know how unhealthy it is compared to other meat sources like beef for example. Coz I am pretty sure pig’s meat is way more healthy than beef. especially looking at cholesterol content. Also when you talk about omega 3 and omega 6. doesn’t fish contain more of these fatty acids? should we stop eating fish coz it contains more amounts than healthy?

    After all I would really like it if you have any medical reference to any of these important medical information otherwise this article could be very misleading to many people out there.

  11. quinn johnson Avatar
    quinn johnson

    Pigs roll around in their own filth no matter where they are. Again sweat glands are also the way they body get rid of toxin. I agree with the study I am proof. I stopped eating pork for several years because I became over weight, tired, sluggush, slow and just sick all the time. So I made the commitment to do something about, I stopped eating pork and cut back on eating junk food. I began simply exercise routine treadmill for cardio and Windsor pilates, I went from a size 22 to a 11, stayed that way for about 9 years.
    Met a pork lover got pregnant during that time craved out and at it. Now i am sick all the time my daughter is four now i am starting back to the no pork because my body thanked me for it. I do think that tthis study us correct from my own . Thank you for taking the time to do this research.

  12. Velma Sanders Avatar
    Velma Sanders

    The Creator of heaven and earth and all living things therein (people) has given us a list of meats that are best for us to consume. Leviticus 11 chapter and Deuteronomy 14 chapter clearly tells us. It never ceases to baffle me why human beings will follow the manufacture company instructions for all purchases (man-made) but refuses to follow the instructions of the Creator who made us in their image.

    Thank you for this well written article. Regardless, if a person accepts this or not it is valid. By the way, pork make the first list of foods the doctor tells a patient to stop eating. It is not fit for people to consume at any time. Remember, a hit to the wise is sufficient. If you are not wise you must be the opposite.

    Velma

    Vel

  13. Gail Jo Avatar
    Gail Jo

    Pigs are intelligent animals. Learning from them should be studied. Why are they still here in this century when they carry all these diseases and chemicals they ingest? Why are we so susceptible to whatever diseases that comes along? These piggies must have the perfect recycling system which we could learn. Pork I see in the market are leaner than ever today. What and where their feed comes from must be considered. This article was good but in any country with the inability to produce enough food, these must be a welcomed animal for survival. Okinawans in my parent’s days, loved pork. I have read of their longevity — I scratch my head once more and wonder!

  14. k Avatar
    k

    Interesting article. Muslims are even forbidden from eating pork. I can see why.

  15. lynn maust Avatar
    lynn maust

    I get my pork from a local processor…local pig farms…not factory types. This pork is noticably tastier and much more tender than store brands and types. I am still alive and healthy. So….I should stop eating it?

  16. Alan.H Avatar
    Alan.H

    This article is very useful and informative, Thank you for sharing.

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