8 facts about lard, after learning which we stopped reproaching ourselves for loving it

Lard is a fairly popular food product. Apparently love for him is transmitted to us at the genetic level. After all, our ancestors could not imagine their dinner table without this product.

People began to eat lard many centuries ago. It gained popularity due to its long shelf life and the ability to quickly get enough of it. There are many dishes made from this product. It can be eaten raw or used for frying. Nowadays, when every home has a refrigerator, and stores have a huge selection of products, the value of lard has decreased slightly. There are even opponents who claim that it is harmful to our body and that it can easily make you fat. Let's try to figure out if this is actually true.

Main product qualities

Adherents of a healthy diet and weight loss diets try to avoid eating foods that contain a lot of lipids. In addition, reports regularly appear in various media that such foods contribute to the deposition of cholesterol on the inner walls of blood vessels. In general, the answers to questions about whether fat makes you fat or not, whether this product is beneficial or harmful, are not unambiguous.

It should be noted that the subcutaneous fat of animals accumulates many substances that have a beneficial effect on the functioning of the body.

For example, it contains:

vitamins E, F, D, A and carotene;
various acids (linoleic, arachidonic, palmitic).

The statement that fat makes you fat is due to the fact that it has a fairly high energy value. 100 grams of product contains 770 kilocalories. The daily norm of such food is 80 grams.

Why shouldn't you give up fat on a diet?

Did you eat lard while dieting?
Limit other foods containing fat. Moderate consumption of lard will not cause harm; on the contrary, it will have a positive effect on many functions of the body.

It contains a lot of useful components: essential fatty acids, vitamins A, D, E, C, group B.

There are also minerals - manganese, iron, potassium, calcium and copper.

An important component of lard is arachidonic acid; it is one of the essential acids that must be regularly supplied to the body with food. This compound increases immunity - the body's ability to resist attacks from viruses and bacteria.

In winter, a small piece of bacon added to the diet will strengthen the defenses and have a positive effect on vitality.

It also contains palmitic acid. It is part of the interstitial substance of the skin, activates collagen synthesis and prevents aging.

The body of a losing weight suffers to one degree or another from a deficiency of essential acids and vitamins. Therefore, you should not completely exclude lard from your diet.

The amount of cholesterol in lard is really high - 95 mg, but it also contains lecithin. This substance strengthens cell membranes, normalizes lipid metabolism, and protects blood vessels from cholesterol deposits.

There is also a lot of vitamin D in lard. It promotes the absorption of calcium in the intestines and thereby strengthens bone tissue and protects against osteoporosis.

“Recent studies have shown that fatty acids from pork fat activate brain function and protect against Alzheimer’s disease,” says nutritionist Daria Eremishina in her interview with Vechernyaya Moskva.

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Positive traits

Lard is a good way to improve the functioning of the immune system. The product is absorbed quite quickly by the gastrointestinal tract and has an enveloping effect. Such food contains a small amount of harmful substances, therefore it is used for culinary purposes, in medicine and in cosmetology.

There are several cooking options. Lard can be salted, baked, boiled, stewed and fried. Contrary to popular belief, the cholesterol contained in this product does not contribute to clogged arteries. And in combination with a small amount of garlic, such food helps maintain vascular health.

Experts advise using lard to treat lung pathologies, reduce discomfort from mastitis, eczema, diseases of the joints and dental tissue. In addition, the product does not worsen the condition of the liver, removes heavy metals from body tissues, improves the functioning of the urinary system, brain and heart muscle, and prevents the appearance of tumors. It does not harbor parasites (unlike raw meat). Lard is often consumed with alcoholic beverages. This food is a popular holiday dish. The fact is that such a product prevents rapid intoxication and slows down the process of alcohol absorption.

Do pork lard make you fat? It is impossible to give a definite answer to this question. It all depends on the amount of food consumed and the method of preparation.

Myth 4: “That terrible cholesterol”

Yes, it is present here, but even less than in cow butter. And there is nothing wrong with it. Do you think it will immediately begin to be deposited on the walls of the arteries and atherosclerosis will begin? Nothing like this! Doctors have long established that the amount of cholesterol in the blood and tissues depends little on how much you eat. This substance is perfectly synthesized even if you don’t eat it at all.

Lard is part of the diet for weight loss

Oddly enough, this product is present in diets that include large amounts of lipids. A well-known Polish physician, who determined the ideal ratio of lipids, proteins and carbohydrates, recommends using such food to get rid of excess pounds. These types of foods help you feel full quickly. Why don't fat make you fat? The fact is that even a small dose of this high-calorie product dulls hunger and prevents overeating.

This dish is a good snack option during working hours. It brings much more benefits to the body than candy or sausage, and will not cause liver problems. However, it should be remembered that the answer to the question of whether fat makes you fat or not depends on its quantity. People leading a sedentary lifestyle do not need to eat more than 30 grams of product per day. If you are overweight, the permissible dose is 10 g.

Healthy fatty acids - what should be included in your daily diet when losing weight

If a woman is not indifferent not only to her figure, but also cares about her own health and well-being, then her menu should include the following products:

All types of nuts that are rich in unsaturated fats. Every day you need to eat some walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds, and pine nuts. They perfectly suppress hunger and have long been recognized as the main source of youth and beauty.
Avocado pulp. It is healthy and nutritious; in addition to healthy fatty acids, avocado fruits contain a large amount of vitamins and active microelements
Olive and linseed oil
Fatty fish and other seafood. Iodine, zinc and phosphorus, which are found in these products, help women normalize weight and remain beautiful and energetic.
As for lard, the daily rate of its consumption, which will bring benefit and not harm, is as follows: no more than 10 g per day if a woman is overweight but leads a passive lifestyle. If a woman is active, then she can afford a piece of lard of 30-50 g.

All women who dream of a slim and toned body should not avoid healthy fats - they are extremely important for maintaining health.

Possible harm from consumption

The answer to the question of whether fat makes you fat or not may be positive. After all, this food contains a lot of calories. A small amount of such food will not lead to excess weight gain. However, excessive consumption of lard can cause weight gain and health problems. People suffering from pathologies of the gallbladder and digestive system should exclude this product from their diet.

Experts advise avoiding foods such as neck, carbonate and bacon.

The combination of fat and meat is harmful to the body and contributes to weight gain. Eating lard with skin is also undesirable.

Any product can cause the accumulation of excess pounds. Therefore, if a person strives to maintain a slim figure and does not want to deny himself this tasty dish, he should take into account the daily calorie intake and lifestyle features.

Healthy and unhealthy fats - what you need to know about them

All fats can be divided into two categories - harmful and healthy. One of the main components of each type of fat is fatty acids, which our body uses as a source of energy and endurance. Depending on the chemical composition, all fatty acids are divided into saturated and unsaturated (monounsaturated and polyunsaturated).

Harm and extra pounds are caused by saturated fats, which contain hydrogen molecules. They are hardly absorbed by the body and always try to fix themselves as a reserve on the human body in the form of soft fat folds. Nutritionists include poorly refined palm and coconut oils, butter and full-fat dairy products as saturated fats. Women who are trying to lose extra pounds should beware of such products. Harmful fats also include fats artificially synthesized by humans. They are called trans fats, and primarily include margarine.

But unsaturated fats can be called friends of women on a diet. Monounsaturated fats are found in olives, nuts, pumpkin seeds and avocados. Polyunsaturated fats are found in seafood and most vegetable oils.

Both types of unsaturated fatty acids are very necessary for those women who seek to normalize their weight. And that's why:

Fats regulate the level of bad and good cholesterol in human blood vessels: under the influence of fatty acids, bad cholesterol is destroyed, and good cholesterol is stimulated to increased production
If you consume a variety of unsaturated fats during your diet, they will persistently and guaranteed work for the expected result - improve digestive activity and stimulate metabolic processes. As you know, a slow metabolism contributes to the deposition of fat deposits, and an accelerated one - on the contrary.
Unsaturated fatty acids help maintain normal glucose levels during dietary restrictions. They protect a woman from sudden outbreaks of hunger and deterioration of health, which often occur as a result of a sharp decrease in sugar levels
Nutritionists note that the amount of healthy fats that a person should eat during the day is about 25% of the total amount of food consumed. Moreover, nutrition experts say that without healthy fats in a person’s diet, it is almost impossible to lose weight, stay healthy and lead an active lifestyle.

Why do nutritionists insist on paying attention to such foods:

Fats play an important role in maintaining the elasticity of cell membranes, which suffer during a strict diet. Lack of lipids causes impaired elasticity of ligaments, tendons and muscles and often provokes pain.
Fats and their derivatives protect many internal human organs
Without healthy fatty acids, the normal functioning of the heart and blood vessels is compromised.

With bread? In no case!

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Paradox: lard with bread is just what the doctor ordered! Of course, we do not mean donut buns, but grain bread, made from wholemeal flour or with the addition of bran. Of course, this is for healthy people who are not obese or have digestive problems.

But it’s really not worth putting gastronomic joys like bacon on bread. In general, when losing weight, they are allowed in microscopic quantities - about 5 g. But this is quite enough to add flavor, for example, to the usual stewed cabbage.

Paradox: lard with bread is just what the doctor ordered! An amazing natural combination in which both products are perfectly absorbed. Of course, we do not mean donut buns, but grain bread, made from wholemeal flour or with the addition of bran. Of course, this is for healthy people who are not obese or have digestive problems.

When losing weight, don’t forget about lard: it is an excellent source of energy. A dietary option is to eat lard with vegetables, for example, cabbage. You can have a bite, or you can make a hodgepodge with it, just don’t overcook it.

Pros and cons of the product

The positive effects of lard include the following:

high content of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) and minerals (zinc, selenium, iron, phosphorus);
a large amount of fatty acids necessary for the normal functioning of the body and increasing resistance to adverse environmental factors;
low cholesterol concentration, despite the popular belief that atherosclerosis develops due to fat;
high energy intensity;
participation in the synthesis of hormones and the construction of cell membranes;
normalization of the cardiovascular and nervous systems;
antioxidant activity, which manifests itself in the fight against free radicals that destroy cellular structures;
good digestibility - processed by the body of a healthy person by 98%; participation in the formation of the placenta and the nervous system of the fetus during pregnancy.

All negative aspects are usually associated with improper use of the product:

due to its high nutritional value, its excess consumption leads to obesity;
when frying lard, carcinogenic substances harmful to the body are formed;
Smoked bacon is no less harmful to the digestive system, since it is more difficult to digest and irritates the stomach;
the product stimulates increased production of bile and gastric juice, which in itself is not so bad, but in case of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract it can provoke their exacerbation.

What types of fats exist:

Fats are also called lipids or triglycerides. The triglyceride molecule consists of a base and three arms. The base contains glycerin, and the sleeves represent fatty acids. The base is connected to the sleeves by an etheric connection. You've probably heard that a drug like testosterone is often called ester - these are all fats.

Accordingly, the sleeves are divided into two types: saturated and unsaturated acids. If saturated fats predominate in fats, then they are called that, and vice versa. 99% of humanity believes that saturated fat is to blame for their obesity and most diseases. This is not true at all. All statements have no basis or scientific research; they are heresies and nonsense of “false doctors.” As for cholesterol, there is generally complete falsification in order to sell unnecessary drugs to the masses. We refer to medical literature, “Guyton A. and Hall D. - Medical Physiology” and foreign sources.

Absorption of lipids takes a long time

When fat enters the intestines, the process of breaking down into sleeves and bases occurs. Bile and enzymes play an active role. Accordingly, our output is glycerin and fatty acids. However, fat absorption does not occur according to the principle of carbohydrate absorption, when glucose is immediately absorbed into the blood and sent to fat reserves. Lipids need to travel around the body thoroughly in order to be deposited on the sides.

The first point of fatty acids is the lymphatic system, and then further into the blood. Moving through the acid system, they supply only those organs that urgently need the help of fats and their energy. And the excess goes into the blood and fat depot.

All our organs need lipids, most notably the brain and lungs. When you eat 50 grams of butter, the likelihood that the product will turn into fat is minimal. The type of fat consumed determines the fat deposited in our depots. For example, by eating lamb fat, the layer on the stomach will become dense and elastic, and flabby and viscous fat appears from a large amount of carbohydrates eaten with a high glycemic index, and not from fats.

There was a study where a dog was fed flaxseed oil, after which a certain part was found in its fat reserves, but in an unchanged state.

Having thoroughly studied human physiology and the methods of getting fat into the depot, we can say with confidence that lipids do not get there quickly and not immediately. Most of it, using lymph, gets to essential places that need fat as a structural element. The remains begin to be absorbed into the blood, and then transported to the fat depot.

How to eat lard to avoid gaining weight

Rules for the correct use of lard so as not to gain weight:

Follow the daily norm;
Do not eat fried product, use slightly warmed food;
Do not eat bacon or shake, it does not provide any beneficial effect for the body;
Eat it in combination with black bread or bran, you can season it with pepper or garlic;
Don't overeat!

These simple rules will save you from discomfort when consuming such a wonderful product as lard!

Harmful properties of lard

It has a very high calorie content, 770 kcal per 100g of product. Although this indicator is significant, if it is not used correctly in the daily diet, it is very easy to gain weight.

Daily recommended intake of lard:

For people leading an active lifestyle and playing sports – 80–100 g;
For people leading a sedentary lifestyle – 30–40 g;
For people who want to lose weight, 10 g will be enough.

Exceeding the daily requirement will lead to a gradual increase in kilograms, as is the case with any other product: candy or pasta - it doesn’t matter.

Surely everyone wondered why in the old days they ate so much lard and did not gain weight. It’s all quite simple: previously, all people did hard work and burned a lot of energy, but now the rhythm of life of the majority has slowed down, accordingly, the loads have decreased, and subsequently the diet has changed and the fat has fallen out of it.

It contributes to problems with bile production. If you have such problems or diseases of the liver and pancreas, it is better to refrain from taking lard.

Fried lard

Fried foods are considered the most harmful in terms of weight gain. As with other foods, any heat treatment reduces the amount of nutrients in the food. When you fry it, everything nutritious and necessary disappears; moreover, what happens in the frying pan absorbs carcinogens and becomes a very dangerous bomb for the body. To overcome the harmful effects, the body will need several months of hard work to cleanse itself of such a dangerous piece of fried lard.

What's the best way to eat lard?

Fresh salted lard is considered the most useful. It is good to combine it with garlic, onions, black or bran bread. Smoked and fried lard loses all its beneficial properties and will bring nothing but pleasure from eating and excess weight. And it can even cause harm because it contains harmful toxins. So it’s better to refuse it after all.

Lard has always been and remains a good snack for alcoholic drinks. Rarely a feast in our country is complete without a plate of thinly sliced delicacy. The fact is that it envelops the walls of the stomach and prevents alcohol from being quickly absorbed. But we must not forget that the combination of lard and alcohol causes a powerful blow to the liver. Therefore, you should try to consume it with alcoholic drinks extremely rarely.

Diet

The diet is designed for 10 days. During these days, up to 6 kg are lost. Food should be fatty. This diet is suitable for people who constantly have physical activity that requires a lot of energy, as well as those suffering from joint diseases.

Sample menu:

Breakfast: scrambled eggs (3 eggs and 50 grams of lard). Tea with rye bread and butter.
Lunch: 100 grams of potatoes, one pickled cucumber and 100 grams of lard.
Dinner: 30 grams of lard and maximum tea without anything.

This diet has its pros and cons. Eating large amounts of lard frequently leads to gastritis and pancreatitis. After such a diet, people generally lose the desire to eat lard. Disgust sets in. Reading reviews about the diet, we can conclude that everyone’s body is different. Who is getting better, who is losing weight, who is being treated for an illness in this way. The most important thing is not to exceed the daily calorie intake, and it doesn’t matter whether we are talking about lard or cabbage. Then you won't need a diet. Be healthy!