Pork Lard: Benefits And Harm

Pork lard is a thick layer of subcutaneous fat, where biologically active substances, fat-soluble vitamins, and antioxidants accumulate. The composition of the product determines the beneficial properties of lard.

Lard contains vitamins A, E, D, and F, trace elements, and saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. The most valuable among the acids contained in fat is arachidonic – polyunsaturated fatty acid, which has a whole range of beneficial effects. It improves the functioning of the brain and heart muscle, affects the functioning of the kidneys, and improves blood composition, preventing the formation of cholesterol plaques.

Calo is a source of other valuable fatty acids: palmitic, oleic, linoleic, linolenic, and stearic. The high concentration of components increases the biological activity of lard by 5 times, compared to butter. Lecithin has a positive effect on the condition of blood vessels and cell membranes, strengthens them, and makes them elastic.

Lard can be: salted, marinated, smoked, boiled, and fried. It should be noted right away that lard, the benefits and harms of which are determined, including the method of its preparation, is best consumed only in salted or pickled form since other options not only do not benefit health but can also harm it significantly damage.

So, for example, in fried and boiled lard, there are harmful carcinogens that destroy the liver and negatively affect the work of the kidneys and heart. In addition, these substances lead to obesity.

The daily rate of lard for an adult is approximately 9-12 g of lard, and the maximum portion per week is 100 g.

Myths about lard

• There are opinions that lard makes you fat, and this opinion is partly true. But do not forget that you can gain weight from any product, even the most dietary. The matter is the amount of food consumed. This also applies to lard – you need to eat it in small portions so as not to get fat.
• In addition, many believe that lard belongs to extremely difficult product for the human stomach. But, the valuable fat of pork lard melts at the temperature of the human body, so a healthy stomach absorbs this product well. However, people who have problems with their stomach and intestines should limit their use.
• You can often hear that lard is solid bad cholesterol. There is cholesterol in this product, of course, but in a much smaller amount than, for example, in butter. The amount contained in lard cannot cause atherosclerosis. Due to the cleaning of vascular deposits with fatty acids, lard, on the contrary, helps to prevent the accumulation of cholesterol formations.
• Also, according to the majority, it is very harmful to consume lard in a fried form. It is known that any fried product is harmful. But if you heat the lard without frying it, it will be much better absorbed by the body.

What harm does the use of lard bring to the body?

This product is fatty and has quite a lot of calories. That is, after eating 100 grams of lard, the body receives the daily norm of animal fats. Its excessive use can lead to an increase in body weight.

Since not only this product is included in the daily diet, there is a high probability of eating more than the recommended amount of fat, as a result, it can contribute to obesity of internal organs, as well as an increase in subcutaneous fat.

When buying lard, you need to be sure of the seller, that is, ask what the pig was fed and under what conditions it was raised, because if the safety rules were not observed during its procurement, then there is a high probability of contamination of the product with various parasites that adversely affect human health.

It is forbidden to use this product for people who suffer from such diseases as pancreatitis and cholecystitis, as lard can cause exacerbation of these ailments.