Why We Don't Eat Pork Products

I get asked quite often why we don't eat pork products, especially when I turn down something that looks delicious! Up until three years ago, we did consume pork--bacon, ham, pepperoni, and such. And I won't lie, it was yummy! While researching food, and the health benefits it has on our body, I stumbled across information that made me cringe. (It takes a lot to make me cringe.) It was enough to cause me to explore deeper into the products we consume on a regular basis. Ultimately, it changed the way we eat, thus substituting turkey now for all pork-based recipes. Here is a passage from Rex Russell's book called "What the Bible Says About Healthy Living".

"The digestive system of a pig is completely different from that of a cow. It is similar to ours, in that the stomach is very acidic. Pigs are gluttonous, never know when to stop eating. Their stomach acids become diluted because of the volume of food, allowing all kinds of vermin to pass through this protective barrier. Parasite, bacteria, viruses, and toxins can pass into the pig's flesh because of overeating. These toxins and infectious agents can be passed on to humans when they eat a pig's flesh...Swine are also good incubators of toxic parasites and viruses--although the animal doesn't usually appear to be ill while carrying such diseases."  

So, even though you cook your pork, if heated unevenly, it allows bacteria and parasites to survive in the meat. Just handling swine has an element of risk. Being that it is an unhealthy meat, you can't count on cooking it to protect you! Here's a fun fact for you...FDA requirement forbids hot dogs from including more than 20% animal hair. This is why I go with 100% all beef, uncured, organic hot dogs, verses the cheap pork hot dogs! It is worth the extra couple of dollars spent! Pork is mentioned in the Bible many times, and always with a negative connotation. The pig's flesh is described as "putrid, filthy, or unclean". The Bible even groups pork with blood, bowel, road kill, buzzards, snakes, rats, and roaches. Can you see why I just can't bring myself to enjoy it anymore?! What a shame too.