Meat is a good source of high-quality protein as well as other nutrients. If you're looking to distinguish between beef and pork meat to discover which is the best, bear in mind that both have higher saturated fat than other meats such as fish, turkey, and chicken. If you must consume red meat, go for leaner cuts whenever available.

Because of its versatility, pork is one of the most popular cuts of meat in the United States. It can be served as a main meal or a side dish, and it can be prepared in a variety of ways. On the other hand, beef is sometimes delicate to cook and not everyone aims for this type of meat. However, is highly nutritious in iron and protein, both of which are important in a balanced diet.

Whenever you prefer beef over pork or the other way around, you must be informed about the benefits and nutritional properties for both to decide which one is better. For that case, we have the topic of “Is pork healthier than beef”, and we are going to cover the key differences with the aim to conclude this question.

Nutrient-Based Comparison of Beef and Pork

When talking about nutrition in beef or pork, we must consider the values when the meats are processed. We all know that the healthier way of preparing meat is by boiling it when compared to frying or cooking them in an oven. In the process of cooking, some of the nutrients in meats are lost, although not in high amounts.

When talking generally about nutrients in beef or pork, we have the next numbers per 100g:

  • Beef has 250 calories when compared to the 242 calories of pork.
  • Beef has 23% fat when compared to pork which has 21% fat. Compared in grams it's 15g and 14g.
  • Protein-wise, beef has 26g compared to 27g of pork.

* All these values ​​change according to the cuts of meat.

Looking at these main nutrients, we can see that they are nearly the same. However, the biggest difference is the amount of iron. In beef, there is 14% iron per 100g when compared to the 4% in pork meat.

Another big difference is that beef has a high amount of vitamin B12 and B6 when compared to pork. Although pork has far more thiamin than beef, beef is highly more valuable in vitamin structure. Another vitamin that is present in pork and not in beef, is vitamin D.

After the comparison we can conclude this key information about beef and pork:

  • Pork and beef both have a high-calorie value, potassium, protein, and saturated fat content.
  • Beef has a lot of iron when compared to pork meat.
  • Beef has more Vitamin B12 than pork, while pork has more thiamin.

Is Pork Healthier Than Beef?

Although many people think that beef is healthier than pork, we must look at this conclusion from a few perspectives. When looking at the base nutrients such as protein and fats they are nearly identical. If we compare fatty cuts of pork and fatty cuts of beef, the pork has larger amounts of healthy fats.

Some people think that pork meat is unhealthy and that it contains parasites and viruses, but there is no scientific evidence to support it. Any meat is safe to eat if cooked to the right temperature.

For many people, taste plays a big part, and we understand why. We know that pork is way tastier than beef, we suggest you try this delicious teriyaki grilled pork chops and feel the taste.

Final Thoughts On The Question “Is Pork Healthier Than Beef

In conclusion, beef and pork are healthy meats, eating in balanced ways and having a well-balanced diet is the key to enjoying both types of meat without having any negative effects on your health.

As always, thank you for reading our other on the topic of “Is pork healthier than beef”. We hope you got a broader insight when comparing these two types of meats.

 


Karen Rutherford is the founder and editor-in-chief at Justmexicanfood. You will often find her in the kitchen trying out some new recipes. Karen has decided to share her knowledge with the internet audience and provide the best tips and recipes.