The Other White Meat vs. Fish and Beef
ETR reader Larry F. wrote to us recently with a concern about the health benefits of pork.
"You often write about the benefits of grass-fed beef, wild-caught fish, free-range chicken, and organic eggs," he said. "But I don’t recall your talking about the health benefits (or lack thereof) of pork."
The truth is, there’s not a whole lot of information out there about the health benefits of pork. It’s a decent source of protein… but doesn’t have much else going for it. One reason we recommend wild-caught fish and grass-fed beef in ETR is that they contain healthful omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3s provide a myriad of health benefits ranging from balancing blood sugar and protecting against heart health to protecting against cancer and even Alzheimer’s disease.
So go ahead and enjoy organic, nitrite-free pork that’s been naturally raised. But if you’re trying to get the most out of your protein, stick to fatty fish – like wild salmon, sardines, and Pacific halibut – and grass-fed beef.
[Ed. Note: Eating the right foods is one of the best ways to stay healthy. Get more information about what you should be eating here. And be sure to check out the expert advice and free recipes at Kelley’s site, www.HealingGourmet.com.If you have other questions for ETR’s health experts, e-mail us at AskETR@ETRFeedback.com. Include your name, hometown, and state, and we may respond to your e-mail in ETR.]
Kelley Herring
Kelley Herring is the Founder & CEO of Healing Gourmet – a multimedia company that educates on how foods promote health and protect against disease. As a young adult, Kelley battled a debilitating health condition that went misdiagnosed by multiple doctors for more than a year. Finding no help from “modern medicine”, she turned to her own knowledge of biochemistry and her passion for health research. She soon learned that her symptoms were related to nutrition and within weeks, she charted a course back to health with nothing more than simple lifestyle changes and the power of the plate. The lessons she learned spawned the creation of Healing Gourmet. Kelley is a firm believer in vigorous exercise, moderate sun exposure and delicious, healthy, home-cooked meals. She is also the creator of Healing Gourmet’s Personalized Nutrition Software and Editor-in-Chief of the Healing Gourmet book series published by McGraw-Hill including Eat to Fight Cancer, Eat to Beat Diabetes, Eat to Lower Cholesterol and Eat to Boost Fertility.