"National strategic product" lard is incredibly popular in Ukraine and is widely known beyond its borders. It is also present in European cuisine no less than in Slavic. This is a very energetic product that gives a feeling of satiety for a long time, not to mention that it is also very tasty. There are many recipes for making bacon, all of them are incredibly popular and have their loyal fans. But it has long been believed that the consumption of fat is unhealthy due to the excessive content of cholesterol in it. So is it or not? This remains to be understood in this article.
Fat and cholesterol. Interconnection
Now nutritionists are no longer so critical against and recognize the great benefits that fat brings to the body. Let's see how fat and cholesterol are related to each other. We also find out whether it is contained in fat in general.
Pork fat is subcutaneous animal fat in which all biologically active substances and living cells are stored. Its calorie content is incredibly high - 770 calories per 100 g of product. And the cholesterol in it, of course, is, as it is in any animal product, but to consider it harmful to health, good reasons are needed. In order to find out if cholesterol is harmful in health, it is necessary to determine what its content in the product is.
In 100 g of fat, according to scientific data, there are 70-100 mg of cholesterol. How much is this, we understand by comparing this indicator with other products. For example, beef kidneys contain it much more - 1126 mg, and beef liver - 670 mg, in butter creamy cholesterol 200 mg. Paradoxically, but the fat among them looks quite innocent and certainly not menacing. And even more surprisingly, the cholesterol content in fat does not even reach indicators of seemingly dietary products such as chicken eggs, veal, heart, hard cheeses, as well as many types of fish.
The benefits and harms of eating fat
Getting the body the right fats of animal origin is extremely important for its good functioning. The optimal amount of fat is generally considered the daily norm of 70 g, of which two-thirds are animal fats. The postulate that fat and cholesterol in it are a source of threat to the human body, could not stand the test of time and has been confidently refuted by modern research. According to their results, pork fat has a large number of useful properties. It is literally crammed with precisely those substances that are absolutely necessary for the proper functioning of all systems of the human body. There were many vitamins A, F, D, E in fat, as well as a number of B-group vitamins.
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In addition, the palmitic, lanolin and oleic acids contained in the product are so concentrated that they equate salted pork with olive oil and fatty fish, which is endlessly advertised and widely recommended by nutritionists from all countries. According to such indicators, one should speak not about the dangers of this luxurious product, but about how fat positively affects cholesterol. Judging by scientific data, daily consumption of fat in the required amount significantly helps to reduce the amount of bad cholesterol and also makes excellent prevention of venous diseases.
The high content of selenium in shpig strengthens the immune system, and arachidonic acid helps to actively regulate the background of hormones and also works to strengthen the immune system.
Lard, which preserves all bioactive components, enters the stomach, releases a lot of energy, so even its minimal consumption will allow you to forget about hunger, help warm up in the cold, and not succumb to fatigue in work. You can safely consider it a dietary product, because for all its fullness, it is very easily absorbed by the body, and also helps to reduce the burden on the digestive system.
Fat and weight loss
For those who are striving for weight loss, doctors and nutritionists often impose a strict ban on fat, explaining this by its harmful properties. But it turns out that in the new trends of dietetics, it is already strongly recommended that those who lose weight eat a small portion of lard 30-40 minutes before eating, in order to remove the feeling of hunger and not be insatiable during the main meal. Such a competent approach allows you to start a meal that is not very hungry and quickly get enough, which helps reduce the amount of cholesterol that comes with food.
Lard is also very convenient for a quality snack between meals - a small sandwich with this product can be safely carried in any purse at least for a whole day, because salted lard will not go bad even in the greatest heat and will remain safe for the intestines. By the way, it is very profitable and convenient to take it on hikes and trips, since you can store it without a refrigerator for quite some time.
So, when answering the question whether there is pork cholesterol in fat, it should be noted that there is still a certain amount of it in the product, but it is not as frightening as it was thought some time ago. Given the great benefits that fat brings to the human body, we come to the conclusion that such a meager amount of cholesterol can in no way significantly harm. The low cholesterol content in the pork product also benefits, as its presence creates an obstacle to the formation of bad cholesterol, simply blocking its synthesis in the human body.
Can I use the product with high cholesterol in the body?
The biological activity of fat is five times higher than butter. But this despite the fact that the level of cholesterol in it is less at times. So does fat increase cholesterol if it contains in its composition in such an insignificant amount? And here you can give a twofold answer. If you use fat without measure, then this percentage will be enough to increase cholesterol in the blood. But this also applies to many other products, even the most innocent and completely dietary, which in small doses bring only benefit, and in large quantities are quite capable of harm.
However, the fat content of linoleic acid, one of the three most necessary acids that form vitamin F, significantly strengthens the position of bacon in terms of its usefulness. This acid, in conjunction with linolenic and arachidonic, reduces the activity of the synthesis of harmful cholesterol, accelerates the processes of cholesterol metabolism in the body and does not allow its level to rise to a critical level. But even despite the very important functions of vitamin F in organizing lipid metabolism, if you eat a pound of fat per day, the level of cholesterol will certainly increase. At the same time, it will harm the pancreas and liver, since it will take a lot of bile and lipase to digest such an amount of cholesterol food.
How to use the product with high cholesterol in the body?
In order for lard with high cholesterol not to harm the body, but to benefit it, the daily rate of its consumption should be limited to 30 grams of the product. Otherwise, the load on the liver with the gall bladder increases, and for those people who have problems with these organs, such an overload can be dangerous. Ajika, mustard or horseradish, which stimulate the work of the digestive tract, can help digest the eaten fat faster. So, consuming these delicious seasonings with lard, you will significantly improve digestion processes.
Harmful properties of fat
Despite the enormous benefits that fat brings to the body, harm can also come from it. First of all, this concerns its immoderate consumption, when the amount of cholesterol received significantly exceeds the permissible limits, and neither the liver nor the gall bladder is able to cope with such an excessive load.
Harmful factors include salt used to prepare the product and preserve it from spoilage. Sodium, which is part of the blood, retains moisture in the body, preventing it from freely leaving, and thereby provokes edema. This is harmful for everyone, and especially for those who have problems with metabolic processes.
Do not eat the old!
Try not to eat old fat that has been in the refrigerator for six months or more. Such a product not only loses its taste, but also accumulates carcinogens. The same applies to the smoked product, since this method of preparation deprives part of the vitamins of fat and, thanks to the substances formed during the smoking process, provokes oncological diseases.
Choose only high-quality and fresh lard for cooking, then the body will develop correctly and harmoniously.
The results of new studies of fat for cholesterol
It will turn out to be useful or harmful for each person, fat can be said only depending on how much the product has been eaten and what its quality is. A small amount of fat will not increase cholesterol, and excessive portions can not only increase the amount of cholesterol, but also damage the digestive system.
According to the latest conclusion of the International Union of Dietitians, fat is the only animal product that contains:
- arachidonic acid, which affects the functioning of hormones, is essential for the good functioning of the heart muscle, as well as preventing vascular atherosclerosis;
- oleic acid, proactive development of cancer;
- palmitic acid, involved in metabolic processes and maintaining immunity.
Based on this postulate, new studies of fat and cholesterol were conducted. As a result of them, it turned out that it is impossible to exclude a product from the diet. For health, a balanced diet, which includes all the vitamins, minerals and other useful substances necessary for the development of the body, is very important. The lack of fat in the diet will not give a positive effect, moreover, it will bring tangible damage to the body. It is only necessary to observe the necessary consumption standards for this product. For example, the amount of salted salt for a normal healthy person should not exceed 50 grams per day in his diet. But if this fat is smoked, there is a big risk of getting a large dose of carcinogens.
Which fat is the most healthy?
The most useful fat is not frozen, but slightly heated in a pan before melting. Recent studies in this direction have shown that gentle heat treatment does not harm the usefulness of the active components, but allows them to be absorbed even better. So, scientists have proved that fried foods cooked in lard are much healthier than those cooked in vegetable oil.
Conclusion
Now you know the relationship between fat and cholesterol. We examined the benefits and harms of the product. Summing up the above, it can be stated that there is cholesterol in fat, but not so much. Small portions of this product will not harm a healthy person in the least, and the patient will even be helped to reduce the intake of bad cholesterol with other foods due to the amount of fat that has already arrived. New studies have cast doubt on old ideas about the exclusion of fat from people's diets for its high cholesterol content. On the contrary, new facts have been proved of undoubted benefit of this amazing product, used in the required quantities to ensure the good work of all body systems.