Thank you, aussiemom...yes, there are at least two religious faiths who forbid eating certain meats. I am more wondering from a scientific or nutrition viewpoint if there is any evidence whatsoever that pork really does "release its energy too quickly" or "digest faster" than beef or other foods.

Let's look at how protein is used by the body:

Protein is not an energy food. It is to supply amino acids for the various tissues, that need them, for making new cells, or repairing cells.

In order for protein to be used for energy....energy has to be expended. Yes, it takes calories to digest protein, and convert it to energy. This is the liver's job. When there is excess protein in a meal that is not needed for amino acid usage, the liver converts the amino acids to sugar (glucose) which is then stored as glycogen. This is held in reserve for when the body develops hunger or low blood sugar, and then the sugar is released from the stored glycogen. The conversion to glucose involves removing the amine group (nitrogen part) of the amino acids. This releases the nitrogen which is then converted to urea to be excreted by the kidneys.

I have seen some thought these days that says... protein as a food source should have its calorie content changed from 4 cals per gram to 3, because of this consumption of energy to convert it to sugar.

So when protein is broken down in the stomach to amino acids by the acid there which denatures it--meaning breaking it up into small bits, it is also digested further by protenases from the pancreas and stomach.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protein_%28nutrient%29

So the AMOUNT of protein eaten will determine if sugar is made from its constituent amino acids.

Most proteins are classed as animal, or plant. They contain various different amino acids.

So the pork "giving up energy" faster? I think all animal meats, being dense muscle tissue, may vary somewhat but are basically similar. Pigs don't run around much when farmed. But wild boars do. Muscle tissue of mammals tends to be similar in structure compared to fish for example. And hence fish protein is digested faster.

But being digested faster, does not determine how quickly the liver takes the excess aminos and converts to sugar. That process is going to be rate limited in its own way.

So the comment "gives up its energy faster" is a very strange way to describe pork protein. Protein in general is a slow energy producer! Carbs, are the energy food, and are much faster than protein.

I've gotten a really helpful education about protein from this thread! Thanks for all the links to back up the claims. This has really helped alot!

Thank you! That's pretty much what I was thinking, but now I have the scientific basis whereby I can say to this guy, "Bunk".

Muslims either. Brought up a Catholic, we never ate meat on Fridays and unchristened babies went to Limbo. Then they changed all those rule! I like bacon (I know it's full of fat and sodium) but don't like pork (DH does, we argue/discuss this all the time.) I wouldn't let the Muslim kid put pepperoni on his pizza until he thought it thru - he left it off in the end) Does Urea promote Gout?

Re: Gout

Avoid purine (???) rich foods,

Uric Acid buildup, not urea

The McRib has made another comeback. What is it with this pork sandwich? It goes away and comes back more than a bad boyfriend!

http://shine.yahoo.com/shine-food/wh...y-2606415.html

Do you want to know what is in a McRib? Just remember ignorance can be bliss. So if this is your kind of fast food, DO NOT read this link.

http://theweek.com/article/index/220...made-of-anyway

Don't ask!!