What do you know about fat? Probably every second person will be able to say the following about this product: 1) lard is a national Ukrainian dish; 2) the fat is very fat; 3) the fat is very harmful; 4) fat is very high in calories; 5) the fat is very tasty. But in more detail only experts and gourmets can tell you about it. Despite the well-known negative aspects of this product, he is a frequent guest of our dinner table. Someone does not pay attention to the warnings and eats it for his own pleasure, but someone refuses in agony - because it’s harmful. Not so long ago, there was information that it turns out fat has some exceptional utility and those who consume it, and live longer, and do not get sick, and look younger. Interesting, isn't it? And what really is fat, what's more in it - good or harm?
Useful properties of fat
Fat is a subcutaneous layer of fat, in which various biologically active substances, fat-soluble vitamins, microelements, acids, antioxidants are stored. That is, fat cannot be considered from the point of view that it is just fat - and that means it is harmful, leads to atherosclerosis and obesity, and its chemical composition must be taken into account.
Pork lard is rich in vitamins A, E, F, D, B4 - in it they are in an easily digestible form. Minerals are represented in insignificant amounts (except for selenium), more attention is deserved for acids that are essential for the human body: arachidonic, palmitic, oleic, linoleic, linolenic, stearic. All of them bring tremendous benefits: they nourish and restore all tissues, improve the functioning of the brain, heart, internal organs, positively affect the state of the vessels, participate in the process of blood formation, remove harmful cholesterol from the body, rejuvenate. Fatty acids are very valuable, with a shortage of them there are many health problems. The trace element selenium is present in fat in a sufficiently large amount of, in other products it is an order of magnitude less. It is a useful substance, strong antioxidant, which is necessary for the full functioning of the cardiovascular system, as well as the protection of nucleic acids from disintegration.
Lecithin, which is also found in pig fat, is needed by man as a substance that ensures the elasticity of blood vessels and the protection of cell membranes. Carotene is also a good antioxidant, it is also required to maintain the health of the organs of vision, prevent the development of myopia, hyperopia and other similar problems.
So, based on their chemical composition, we can say that fat works to strengthen the immune system, it is provided by vitamins and substances that strengthen the cell membrane (carotene), which prevents viruses and bacteria from penetrating into them.
Fat has a positive effect on the state of all tissues, does not allow the internal organs and systems to age and wear prematurely, they continue to work in the same normal mode.
Salo can be used as a remedy against constipation, only for this it should be eaten for breakfast. A small piece of bacon triggers an outflow of bile and this will strengthen digestion and speed up the passage of food through the intestines.
Fat is useful for vessels, it clears them of cholesterol, prevents the growth of cholesterol plaques on the walls, and also remarkably removes various toxins and poisons from the body.
It has been proven that in small amounts lard improves brain activity and can be a good feed for the body in a particularly stressful period. Also, lard is an incredibly nutritious product, with great energy potential. If you have to work hard, long trip, physical activity, it is recommended to eat fat before this. In this case, the stomach will not be overloaded, and there will be so much energy as if you had a solid lunch.
How many calories in fat
Calorie fat is quite high and varies in the range of 800-900 calories per 100 grams. The same caloric content of any vegetable oil. But it does not occur to anyone to completely exclude oils from their diet; on the contrary, everyone knows their nutritional value. It is also the case with bacon, within reason it is useful, but if abused, it becomes the worst enemy. Nutritionists are allowed to consume 30 grams of pork fat per day, if you are physically insignificant, you can increase the portion to 50 grams. It is recommended to eat fat in the morning, before the upcoming load, so that the body is ready for it, not in the evening, to saturate the exhausted body before going to bed - in this case it is likely that you will overtake calories and fat will only harm you, and not favor
The appearance of fat is also of great importance. The greatest value is lard, which is prepared by the method of dry salting, so it is possible to preserve all the useful substances, because the product remains, in fact, unchanged. But smoked fat, pickled and especially fried quickly lose their beneficial properties and turn into a source of empty fat.
It is necessary to combine lard with vegetable products - cucumbers, tomatoes, cabbage, onions, and cereals. But to eat bacon with potatoes, white bread, cereal is not worth it, the dish will be very high in calories.
Useful can only be natural fat, which was obtained from the pig fed good nutrition. When purchasing lard for salting in the market, be sure to ask for veterinary certificates, as you will be using fat almost raw, and it should be “clean”, without parasites, and helminths. The color of fat should be white or slightly pinkish, the yellow shade gives the age of the fat, it is either old or stale - you do not need this.
Harm fat
The main harm brings fat with its unlimited consumption. But not all people fat, even in small quantities will be useful. It should be completely excluded from the diet in diseases of the liver, gallbladder, in violation of cholesterol and fat metabolism, obesity. It can not be given to children up to three years, their pancreas will not sustain such a load.
