Why You Should Avoid Pork
May 10, 2011 by admin
Filed under News Stories
May 10th, 2011
DrAxe.com
By: Dr. Axe
If you’re at all familiar with the Bible you’ll probably remember that in it God specifically instructed His people not to eat pork and shellfish. Many people are surprised to find this out, but in the Old Testament God warned us that the pig was an unclean animal–a scavenger and not to be eaten (Check out Leviticus 11).
No matter how you think about it, pigs are a rather dirty animal. They are considered the scavengers of the farm (created to eliminate any waste on the farm), often eating anything they can find. This includes not only bugs, insects, and whatever leftover scraps they find laying around, but also their own feces, as well as the dead carcasses of sick animals, including their own young.
This in itself can explain why the meat of the pig can be so dirty or at the very least not so appetizing to consume. And while being ‘grossed out’ may or may not be a valid reason not to eat something it’s vital to understand a bit more about pork before reaching your own conclusion.
Pork 101: Know the Facts
Pork is one of the most consumed meats in the world. China is the largest producer of pigs that were first domesticated way back around 7500 B.C.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that more than 100 viruses come to the United States each year from China through pigs. There are some obvious concerns about this. Aside from not needing more viruses to fight off, some of these viruses can prove to be downright dangerous to humans.
Of course, you’re probably familiar with H1N1, better known as ‘the swine flu.” This too is a virus that has made the leap from pig to human.
But H1N1 is not the only disease to fear from the pig. There are other sicknesses you can get from eating the meat of the pig.
Pork meat is loaded with toxins, more so than most other meats like beef and chicken.
Is Pork Meat Toxic?
There are reasons that the meat of the pig becomes more saturated with toxins than many of its counterpart farm animals. The first reason has to do with the digestive system of a pig.
A pig digests whatever it eats rather quickly, in up to about four hours. On the other hand a cow takes a good twenty-four hours to digest what it’s eaten. During the digestive process, animals (including humans) get rid of excess toxins as well as other components of the food eaten that could be dangerous to health.
Since the pig’s digestive system operates rather basically, many of these toxins remain in their system to be stored in their more than adequate fatty tissues ready for our consumption.
Another issue with the pig is that it doesn’t have any sweat glands. Sweat glands are a tool the body uses to be rid of toxins. This leaves more toxins in the pig’s body.
I don’t have to tell you that when you consume pork meat, you too are getting all these toxins that weren’t eliminated from the pig. None of us need more toxins in our systems. In fact we should all be doing what we can to eliminate and cut down on toxin exposure. One vital way to do this is by choosing what you eat carefully.
Trichinellosis, Pork Meat, and Your Health
Did you know that pigs carry a variety of parasites in their bodies and meat? Some of these parasites are difficult to kill even when cooking. This is the reason there are so many warnings out there about eating undercooked pork.
One of the biggest concerns with eating pork meat is trichinellosis or trichinosis. This is an infection that humans get from eating undercooked or uncooked pork that contains the larvae of the trichinella worm.
This worm parasite is very commonly found in pork. When the worm, most often living in cysts in the stomach, opens through stomach acids, its larvae are released into the body of the pig. These new worms make their homes in the muscles of the pig. Next stop? The unknowing human body who consumes this infected meat flesh.
And while no one particularly wants to consume worms, trichinellosis is a serious illness that you should do virtually anything to avoid.
Common Symptoms of Trichinellosis:
Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Headache
Fever
Chills
Cough
Swollen eyes
Muscle pain
Aching joints
Coordination problems
Heart issues
Breathing problems
These symptoms of trichinellosis can really put you out of the game for quite a while. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) these symptoms can last for weeks and in more serious cases months on end.
The CDC recommends thorough cooking of pork as well as freezing the pork meat prior to cooking to kill off any worms. I don’t know about you, but I don’t feel good about eating anything that I first have to kill off its worms to eat.
In fact, it’s been theorized that trichinellosis is the exact cause of Mozart’s rather sudden death at age 35. An American researcher theorized this after studying all the documents recording the days before, during, and after Mozart’s death. He found that Mozart suffered many of the above listed symptoms and he, himself, had recorded in his journal the consumption of pork just forty-four days before his own death.
(If you want to read more on this intriguing story you can find it in the Archives of Internal Medicine’s June 2001 issue.)
But that’s not all….
Pigs carry many viruses and parasites with them. Whether by coming in direct contact with them through farms or by eating their meat we put ourselves at higher risk of getting one of these painful, often debilitating diseases (not to mention put our bodies on toxic overload.)
Pigs are primary carriers of:
Taenia solium tapeworm
Hepatitis E virus (HEV)
PRRS (Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome)
Nipah virus
Menangle virus
Each of these parasites and viruses can lead to serious health problems that can last for years to come.
What you choose to eat is up to you. Myself, I choose to stay away from unclean pork (and shellfish.) The reasons discussed here are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to eating pigs and your health.
Do your own research, carefully consider what the Bible so many years ago warned us about, then make your own educated decision about what you choose to feed yourself and your loved ones.
The Atlanteans “had heinous genetic experimentation that created weird hybrid creatures that came to be known today as the Merfolk, Minotaurs, Bigfoot, Yeti, and even the domestic pig, which is half-human” (from “Stewart says” by Stewart A. Swerdlow).
That is why Bible instructed people do not eat pork and this is the reason why pigs used for the surgeries for human (compatible DNA).
I take Armour thyroid for a low thyroid condition. This is taken from pigs. Should I be concerned?? Holistic doctors recommend Armour over synthetic drugs. Please advice.
Here is another reason to consider NOT eating pork. A small study (VERY small) was done by the Weston A Price Foundation on what fresh/non-marinated pork does to the blood. It was found that non-marinated pork causes the red blood cells to clump or stick together shortly after eating. They compared this to “cured”, brined or otherwise marinated pork which did not cause clumping. So, while it’s probably best to not eat pork, if you must, make certain that it’s been “pre-treated” through curing or marination prior to cooking.
http://paleodietnews.com/2827/paleo-diet-how-pork-preparation-affects-the-blood/
and
http://www.westonaprice.org/cardiovascular-disease/how-does-pork-prepared-in-various-ways-affect-the-blood
Also, genetically pigs are very similar to humans, allowing for valve replacements and other surgeries…that can’t bode well either
i eat pork and im fine. not saying its the best meat to eat though it isnt. and all meats are bad to eat right now unless you are rich and have your own farm or a good supply of organic meat.
Just Hunt! Wild Game is what I eat.
I don’t eat pork either, but I bet if you do, and your thankful for it you’ll be fine, but Jesus did also say health isn’t that valuable so who knows.
Remember when Kevin was saying that he went to that place where they eat 100% organic food and raw foods and they still have disease and its probably because their attitude isnt good.
Matthew 15:11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.
You could ask George Burns, who said he outlived every doctor that told him not to smoke for his health. I also believe the oldest living person, eats bacon everyday, fried in fat, at least some 100+ year old guy I saw on tv does eat bacon everyday.
I think it goes into the What the bleep do we know category, but of course everybody is different, some people are allergic to certain foods and others aren’t so maybe its the same with pork, its very hard to tell because to conduct an actual study is probably illegal through the FDA.
What can we really know about health with the FDA constantly harrassing good doctors and farmers and supplement creators.
Antonio, if I am thankful for the swill that comes out of you after eating the scavenger of the earth will it be good for me?
Dont eat Pork, its in the bible and Kevin Trudeau will tell you why, google him he is amazing!!
Hi, Kevin, my family and I don’t consumed pork for several years, and we feel great!
Real food
i forget to add somthing ealse that arminian poeple with htere super doper fantastic experincess in dry meat they use clove and hot spieces with red wine and there beutifull arminian dance i swear i am not arminian put one friende from mosco teach me this every ceciliziation is unique and every cevilizion is unversal enjoy every thing it from humanbeen minde kinde i love this thought
dear kevin personly i dont eat pork anymore long time ago ,put if i have situation i use what the wisdom of the poeple whom eat it in ethiopia and Ereteria beside what dr hulda clark descovery that the eggs of the parasite resiste very high temperture the best is to cook it (any kinde of meat with clove and oregano hot pepare and that should be done the lost 10 minute of cooking or put marroniate the meat atlest 8 houre with good vengure and these spices beside others that in case we want to be in safe side
I have not eaten pork or shellfish for years. My children have never eaten it intentionally. I discovered that we don’t have to go to the doctor as often and my children don’t need to go for anything more than a physical.
Also, it is in the cleaners we use too. So I stay away with anything that has any form of animal byproducts. Because they will also use horse urine in beauty products. According to the bible horses are also unclean and not fit to eat. So we don’t use anything we know to have these by products.