[Blessings2You]

Somebody just announced to me that he's not eating pork any more because he read (somewhere?) that pork "releases its energy" in the body so fast that you can't use the proteins, so the proteins turn into urea, and "too much urea is bad for you."

Well, I couldn't make any sense out of that...I know people with kidney disease that have to be careful of eating too much protein because their kidneys can't handle the urea. I guess anybody could overload on protein (of any kind) and mess up the balance of things. And I agree that too much urea is not a good plan.

But I never heard of pork digesting faster than, say, beef... Anyway, I've been trying to research this so I can give an informed response (as opposed to "that's hogwash") but grrrr, any which way I google, I keep coming up with websites such as quacks-R-us.com, buy-my-diet-plan.com, down-with-pork.com...you know what I mean. Where can I find some FACTS about this from a reputable and recognized source??

[mrsD]

Here is one interesting source:

http://www.qualityhealth.com/eating-...t-foods-digest

What I also found was a strange website called "sequential eating"...which claimed that pork was the "fastest meat" digested compared to others, and that it therefore releases any toxins faster to the liver.

also
http://thealkalinediet.org/blog/how-...to-digest-meat

Even the quick digesting foods have to wait until the slowest digesting food like meat leave the stomach. This process may take up to 6-8 hours. To be more exact on the digestive time of various proteins, egg yolk digestion time is around 30 minutes; the whole egg is approximately 45 minutes; fish which is less fatty like sole seafood, cod, flounder, and scrod takes 30 minutes to digest; while more fatty fish including salmon, herring, salmon trout can take 45-60 minutes to digest; the chicken without skin can take up 1 1/2 – 2 hours before it leaves the stomach (what more for chicken with skin?); the turkey without skin is much longer to digest because it can stay 2-2 1/4 hours of digestion; the most favorite beef and lamb can really stay 3-4 hours; lastly, the pork which is always part of the meal can take 4 1/2- 5 hours to digest.

But you know this depends on how much acid is in the stomach.
No acid and the proteins won't break down at all.
Typically with good acid in the stomach the proteins break down better and release B12 which is scooped up by intrinsic factor.
People on long term acid blocking drugs, cannot digest meat and other proteins. Instead they ferment and produce gas and diarrhea as bacteria ferment the proteins.

I can eat ham, but some types of pork don't agree with me anymore. When hubby insists on his pork (which I call oink- oink) I fix myself something else that day. Maybe even peanut butter ! I seem to handle Turkey well, and beef, with chicken the runner up. I don't know what it is about most pork, but I just feel yukky when I have it. (except for ham).

[SallyC]

I don't have pork often, but I do enjoy barbequed ribs once or twice a year. Pork cabbage rolls and sour kraut used to be a staple in our house, but not anymore.

I've never heard that about pork. I only heard that you should cook it longer, as it's unclean??

[TXBatman]

Am I missing something in your quoted section MrsD? Forgive me for not reading the links (firewall at work blocking them), but you say the first link says pork is the fastest digesting meat, but your second link says pork takes the longest of all meats to digest. I don't know any more than the OP about the subject, but just thought your statement from the first link was contradicting what was stated in the quote from the 2nd link and wondered if that was your intent or if I was missing something.

[Blessings2You]

I found those (contradictory) links as well, and many similar. But I can't find a source such as a well-known educational, government, national health-type organization that I can quote.

There are plenty of legitimate reasons not to eat this or that (I'm an omnivore) but my friend's reasoning just doesn't add up. I mean, I don't care if he eats bacon or not, more for me. But I'd like to think he was making an informed decision, not based on something that could come from Snopes.

[Kitty]

I haven't eaten pork in years. I do eat chicken, fish, turkey and sometimes beef (rarely). Years ago I read something about pork being unhealthy and unclean and I've never researched it any more.....just quit eating it. It hasn't been a problem. Easy to just not buy it. I guess I should research it again as I'm sure things have changed in 20 years.

[SallyC]

I think that most pigs are no longer slop fed, so the pork is probably cleaner and leaner?

[mrsD]

I put those up to illustrate how diverse the information can be.

And for those who worry about pork, and cooking times, that has just changed, and was liberalized.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_1...-10391704.html

There is another theory... the Eat Right 4 Your Type hypothesis, which is that certain "lectins" or side chains on foods, are not compatible with certain Blood types.

For example, mine is not compatible with chicken!
There have been people who claim they have cured their rheumatoid arthritis with the lectin theory!

http://www.dadamo.com/
This theory has evolved with the genetic testing and ethnic habits certain groups have encoded in their genes.

This dietician has written a book called Your Body Knows Best,
http://www.facebook.com/annlouisegittleman
and it is just fascinating! I think food intolerances can link to genetic vulnerability. If you are interested in this subject, try her book. Its over 10 yrs old now...but you can find it on Amazon used, I'm sure.

So pork releasing "toxins"... I don't think so.

I think digesting proteins in the stomach varies from person to person based on the acid present. Low acid will lengthen protein breakdown from food.

[TheSleeper]

I saw something on the history channel once about the Civil war, something regarding the Northern Troops diet of primarily beef and wheat being more beneficial to their health than the Southern troops diet of pork and corn?

[aussiemom]

I think, and I surely don't mean to offend anyone, that people of the Jewish faith don't eat pork. It is considered unclean. I don't know any more than that. It's entirely possible I have it confused with another faith.