Pork belly provides protein, but it is also a cut high in fat and calories, so people managing their weight should watch how much they eat. Recently, actor Ahn Jae Hyeon, 39 years old, named pork belly as his favorite food even while managing his diet.
In a video posted on his YouTube channel on the 28th, Ahn Jae Hyeon said, “I make sure to get a balanced amount of carbohydrates, protein and fat” even while managing his diet, adding, “I eat chicken breast, sweet potatoes and nuts.” He then ranked Korean dishes according to his preferences and placed pork belly in the highest tier, saying, “I could eat pork belly every day.” He added that he likes all types, from thick-cut pork belly to thinly sliced pork belly.
◇Pork belly provides protein but is high in fat
Pork belly is a food that provides protein, but it is a cut with a high fat content. A study published in the 2021 international academic journal 'Animal Bioscience' analyzed 78 samples of pork belly according to their fat content and found that the average fat content ranged from 19.37% to 32.87%, while the protein content ranged from 14.63% to 19.75%. In particular, the higher the fat content of the pork belly, the lower its protein ratio.
Pork belly also contains a considerable amount of saturated fat. The same study found that saturated fatty acids accounted for about 45% of all fatty acids in pork belly. Saturated fat is found in large amounts in the fat of meat, and excessive intake can raise blood LDL cholesterol levels. When there is too much LDL cholesterol in the blood, it can build up on the walls of blood vessels and increase the risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. The World Health Organization, WHO, recommends limiting saturated fat intake to less than 10% of total daily calorie intake.
Therefore, people managing their weight should control their intake rather than eating large amounts of pork belly as a protein source and, when necessary, choose leaner cuts of pork.
◇Balance the meal by adding vegetables
When eating pork belly, it is advisable to add plenty of vegetables, such as lettuce, perilla leaves and mushrooms. Dietary fiber, which is abundant in vegetables, helps supplement the fiber lacking in pork belly and increase satiety. In fact, a meta-analysis published in the 2020 international academic journal 'Advances in Nutrition' found that soluble dietary fiber intake lowered the post-meal triglyceride response.
However, adding vegetables does not reduce the fat or calorie content of the pork belly itself. Rather than eating a large amount at once, it is best to eat a moderate portion. It is also advisable not to add too much ssamjang, salt or oil-based dipping sauce, as these can increase sodium or calorie intake.
In a video posted on his YouTube channel on the 28th, Ahn Jae Hyeon said, “I make sure to get a balanced amount of carbohydrates, protein and fat” even while managing his diet, adding, “I eat chicken breast, sweet potatoes and nuts.” He then ranked Korean dishes according to his preferences and placed pork belly in the highest tier, saying, “I could eat pork belly every day.” He added that he likes all types, from thick-cut pork belly to thinly sliced pork belly.
◇Pork belly provides protein but is high in fat
Pork belly is a food that provides protein, but it is a cut with a high fat content. A study published in the 2021 international academic journal 'Animal Bioscience' analyzed 78 samples of pork belly according to their fat content and found that the average fat content ranged from 19.37% to 32.87%, while the protein content ranged from 14.63% to 19.75%. In particular, the higher the fat content of the pork belly, the lower its protein ratio.
Pork belly also contains a considerable amount of saturated fat. The same study found that saturated fatty acids accounted for about 45% of all fatty acids in pork belly. Saturated fat is found in large amounts in the fat of meat, and excessive intake can raise blood LDL cholesterol levels. When there is too much LDL cholesterol in the blood, it can build up on the walls of blood vessels and increase the risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. The World Health Organization, WHO, recommends limiting saturated fat intake to less than 10% of total daily calorie intake.
Therefore, people managing their weight should control their intake rather than eating large amounts of pork belly as a protein source and, when necessary, choose leaner cuts of pork.
◇Balance the meal by adding vegetables
When eating pork belly, it is advisable to add plenty of vegetables, such as lettuce, perilla leaves and mushrooms. Dietary fiber, which is abundant in vegetables, helps supplement the fiber lacking in pork belly and increase satiety. In fact, a meta-analysis published in the 2020 international academic journal 'Advances in Nutrition' found that soluble dietary fiber intake lowered the post-meal triglyceride response.
However, adding vegetables does not reduce the fat or calorie content of the pork belly itself. Rather than eating a large amount at once, it is best to eat a moderate portion. It is also advisable not to add too much ssamjang, salt or oil-based dipping sauce, as these can increase sodium or calorie intake.