A recent ranking of the world's 100 healthiest foods has placed pork fat, commonly known as lard, at number eight, surpassing numerous fruits and vegetables in nutritional value. With a score of 73 out of 100, lard outperformed 92 other foods, including peas, red cabbage, tomatoes, mackerel, lettuce, oranges, and sweet potatoes.
According to BBC Future, pork fat is a rich source of B vitamins and minerals. It is also more unsaturated and healthier than lamb or beef fat. Lard contains monounsaturated fats such as oleic acid, also found in olive oil, which are beneficial for heart health. While it does contain some saturated fats, these are fine in moderate amounts.
The nutritional benefits of lard can be enhanced depending on how the pigs are raised. Pasture-raised pork fat tends to be healthier due to its superior nutrient content, including fat-soluble vitamins like vitamin D, especially if the pigs are raised outdoors.
Meanwhile, Ocean Perch was named the top healthiest fish, coming in third overall with a score of 89 out of 100. According to Facts.net, 100g of this deep-water fish contains just 79 calories but provides around 20g of protein and is low in saturated fats.
