Ugh, so the good folks at Slate.com - an outlet whose political news and analysis I love - appealed to the "real man" in all of us with a story extolling the many health benefits of - get ready for it - lard. Yes, lard. Rendered fat from pigs.
Writer Regina Schrambling claims that lard has "clearly won the health debate" because unlike shortening it contains no trans fat. Um, I'm no expert but I'd imagine that the absence of trans fat alone does not a health food make.
Fortunately Virginia Messina, MPH, RD, of The Vegan Dietician, is on the case. Messina fired back at Schrambling, pointing out that saturated fats (of which lard is one) are known contributors to heart disease. And she points to other studies that constantly show what we all know to be true (even, I suspect, Ms. Schrambling): veggies, nuts and vegan monounsaturated oils protect against heart disease. Foods with high transfatty acids (e.g., lard, meat and eggs) are shown time and again to increase risk of heart disease. And cancer.
So there you have it. Lard is no more a "health food" than turpentine. Let's do like PETA and leave pork (including lard) off the fork!
Writer Regina Schrambling claims that lard has "clearly won the health debate" because unlike shortening it contains no trans fat. Um, I'm no expert but I'd imagine that the absence of trans fat alone does not a health food make.
Fortunately Virginia Messina, MPH, RD, of The Vegan Dietician, is on the case. Messina fired back at Schrambling, pointing out that saturated fats (of which lard is one) are known contributors to heart disease. And she points to other studies that constantly show what we all know to be true (even, I suspect, Ms. Schrambling): veggies, nuts and vegan monounsaturated oils protect against heart disease. Foods with high transfatty acids (e.g., lard, meat and eggs) are shown time and again to increase risk of heart disease. And cancer.
So there you have it. Lard is no more a "health food" than turpentine. Let's do like PETA and leave pork (including lard) off the fork!
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