Is Pork Healthier Than Beef (Explained)

This article will answer the aged question people have been asking ‘is pork Healthier Than Beef’?.

They ask this because they wouldn’t want to endanger their health in the name of eating meat.

The question “is pork healthier than beef?” has been around for a long time. In fact, it has been the subject of many articles and studies over the years.

While there are some things that scientists know about this topic, they don’t have all of the answers yet. That said, here is what we do know so far.

Is Pork Healthier Than Beef?

There is a lot of debate over which meat is healthier, pork or beef. Some people argue that pork is healthier because it contains less cholesterol than beef.

Others argue that beef is healthier because it contains more nutrients than pork.

Ultimately, it is up to the individual to decide which meat is healthier for them.

Some people may choose to eat pork because they believe that it is healthier, while others may choose to eat beef because they believe that it is healthier.

It is important to remember that the health of an individual is ultimately up to them and what they choose to eat.

There are many people who believe that pork is a healthier option than beef.

Some of the reasons why people believe this to be the case include the following:

Pork is a meat that is high in protein. Beef is a meat that is high in calories.

Pork is a meat that is low in fat. Beef is a meat that is high in fat.

Pork is a meat that is low in cholesterol. Beef is a meat that is high in cholesterol.

Pork is meat that is low in sodium. Beef is meat that is high in sodium.

Pork is healthier than beef in providing nutrients that sustain the body’s well-being though slightly lower in energy (242kcal) against (250 kcal) of beef, and sodium 62mg against 72mg of beef.

Pork And Beef Nutritional Value

Pork has a higher fat content than beef. A 3-ounce serving of lean pork tenderloin has about 5 grams of total fat, compared to 18 grams for the same amount of lean beef rib eye.

Pork is also lower in protein than beef. A 3-ounce serving of lean pork tenderloin contains 26 grams of protein, compared to 25 grams for the same amount of lean beef rib eye.

Pork has significantly more iron than beef; a 3-ounce serving contains 4 milligrams while a similar size serving only provides 2 milligrams.

Pork also contains more zinc than its bovine counterpart; it offers 1 milligram per ounce while it takes half an ounce (or roughly 1/3 cup) to get your daily recommended intake from one cup of cooked oatmeal with raisins (0.77 mg).

Pork tends to be lower in vitamin B12 unless you opt for organ meats like liver or kidney, which are often considered offal by many people because they are considered potentially unappealing or even taboo food items despite their nutritional value and taste when cooked properly.

Nutrients of Pork per 100 grams

Energy	1,013kj(242kcal)
Fat	27.92g
Saturated fat	5.230g
Monounsaturated fat	6.190g
Polyunsaturated fat	1.200g
Protein:	13.32g
Tryptophan	0.338g
Threonine	1.234g
Isoleucine	1.260g
Leucine	2.177g
Lysine	2.446g
Methionine	0.712g
Cystine	0.344g
Phenylalanine	1.086g
Tyrosine	0.936g
Valine	1.473g
Arginine	1.723g
Histidine	1.067g
Alanine	1.603g
Aspartic acid	2.512g
Glutamic acid	4.215g
Glycine	1.409g
Proline	1.158g
Serine	1.128g
Calcium	19mg
Cupper	0.073mg
Magnesium	28mg
Phosphorus	246mg
Iron	0.87mg
Sodium	62mg
Potassium	423mg
Zinc	2.39mg
vitamin B6	0.464mg
vitamin B12	0.70micro g
Choline	93.9mg
vitamin C	0.6mg
vitamin D	53IU

Nutrients of Beef Per 100 grams

Energy	1.047kj (250 kcal)
Fat	15g
Saturated fat	5.887g
Monounsaturated fat	6.662g
Polyunsaturated fat	0.485g
Protein	26g
Thiamine ( vitamin B1)	0.046mg
Riboflavin (vitamin B2)	0.176mg
Niacin (B3)	5.378mg
PYRIDOXINE (vitamin B6)	0.383mg
Folic acid (vitamin B9)	9 micro g
Cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12)	2.64micro g
Choline	82.4mg
vitamin D	7IU
vitamin E	0.45mg
vitamin K	1.2micro g
Calcium	18mg
Cupper	0.85mg
Iron	2.6mg
Magnesium	21mg
Manganese	0.012mg
Phosphorus	198mg
Potassium	318mg
Selenium	21.6micro g
Sodium	72 mg
Zinc	6.31 mg

Pork Vs Beef

These nutrients will be discussed under the following:

Saturated Fat

the saturated fat of beef is slightly higher than that of pork, from the table above.

This saturated fat coagulates at room temperature and if done in the bloodstream, can cause cardiovascular disease.

That means that the high saturated fat in beef will have more coagulants than the coagulants in pork resulting in a higher risk of Cardiovascular disease.

Poly Unsaturated Fats

Poly unsaturated fat is regarded as good fat because they are liquid at room temperature.

That means pork has more fats that are liquid at room temperature than beef, hence helping the lymph in the transportation of nutrients such as fat-soluble vitamins (A, D E, and K).

Essential Amino Acids

These are amino acids that the body can’t synthesize, rather depends solemnly on external sources.

These essential amino acids are tryptophan, threonine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, valine, and histidine.

From the table, pork is a good source of these proteins/ amino acids, rating pork higher in essential amino acids than beef.

Macro minerals

These are minerals that the body requires in large quantities to maintain the body’s metabolic processes.

These minerals are calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, chlorine, and sulfur.

Pork as can be observed from the table is richer than beef in these macronutrients (except sodium) hence, making pork healthier than beef.

Read more: 10 Tips On How To Cook Meat To Avoid Carcinogens.

Benefits of eating Pork

Here are some common benefits of eating pork:

1. Pork is a versatile meat that can be cooked in a variety of ways.
2. Pork is a good source of protein, phosphorus, and selenium.
3. Pork is a good source of niacin and vitamin B6.
4. Pork is a good source of vitamin B12.
5. Pork is a good source of zinc.

Disadvantages of eating pork

Here are some common disadvantages of eating pork:

1. Animal welfare: Pigs are raised in intensive confinement conditions, including in inhumane gestation crates that can cause severe health problems for the animals.
2. Environmental impact: Pigs produce large amounts of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, when they are fed processed food.
3. Food allergies: Some people are allergic to pork and can experience anaphylactic shock if they eat it.
4. Health risks: Pork is high in saturated fat and cholesterol, and has been linked to cancer, heart disease, and other health problems.
5. Cultural and religious objections: Some people have religious or cultural objections to eating pork, based on their beliefs about animal welfare or the environment.

Benefits of eating Beef

Here are some common benefits of eating beef:

1. Beef is a great source of protein.
2. Beef is a good source of iron.
3. Beef is a good source of zinc.
4. Beef is a good source of selenium.
5. Beef is a good source of B-12.
6. Beef is a good source of CLA.
7. Beef is a good source of vitamins A, C, and E.

Disadvantages of eating beef

Here are some common disadvantages eating beef:

1) Beef is a high-fat meat that is unhealthy for you to eat on a regular basis.

2) Beef is a source of saturated fat and cholesterol.

3) Beef is a source of environmental pollutants, such as methane and nitrous oxide.

4) Beef is a source of antibiotics, hormones, and other dangerous chemicals.

5) Beef is a resource-intensive food that takes a lot of resources to produce.

Read more: Can I Eat Red Meat Every Day (Pros & Cons)

Conclusion

There is a lot of debate on whether pork is healthier than beef.

Some people argue that pork is a healthier option because it doesn’t contain the same amount of saturated fat as beef.

However, pork also contain less cholesterol, so it’s important to be mindful of how much you eat.

Beef is also a good source of protein, zinc, and vitamins B12 and B6.

Reference

1. USDA
2. Livestrong