Some people say that lard residue can prevent cancer, while others say that lard residue is harmful to the cardiovascular system. Let's hear what doctors say.

There are many rumors about "lard residue". Some people say that lard residue is a treasure and can prevent cancer, while others say that lard residue is harmful to the cardiovascular system and should not be eaten. As a doctor from the countryside, I have a lot of say, because when I was a child, my family was poor and lard was cheap, so we often ate it at home. So, is lard residue really edible? Let's talk about it today.

Why do many people love to eat lard? There are two main reasons why people love lard: the first is its fragrant smell. The use of fire has made an indelible contribution to the development and progress of human civilization. With fire, our ancestors changed from eating raw meat to eating cooked meat, and their bodies became stronger and stronger. In this process, human sense of smell evolved, and human sensitivity to cooked meat increased greatly. When it comes to the aroma of lard, we have to talk about a chemical change called the Maillard reaction. The Maillard reaction is a chemical reaction between amino acids and reducing sugars, which makes food turn brown and have a unique aroma. These substances often exist in lard, and when they reach a certain temperature, they will evaporate, and humans can smell these aromas keenly.

The second reason for the chemical change of the Maillard reaction is due to the special background of the times. In the planned economy era, oil coupons had to be used to exchange for oil. Oil coupons were distributed per person, 0.25 kilograms per person per month, and only workers were given them. This was obviously not enough for families dominated by members. Everyone had no choice but to buy some fat meat to "refine" lard to eat. It was not only cheap but also had a strong aroma for cooking. For families who could not afford meat, adding some lard to stir-fried dishes would also have a meaty taste.

Is eating lard unhealthy? With the improvement of living standards, lard has become less and less common. One of the main reasons is that people believe that eating lard is unhealthy and will increase the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. So what is the truth?

The reason why eating lard residue is considered harmful to the human body is that compared with peanut oil and olive oil, lard contains a higher content of saturated fatty acids. Excessive intake of saturated fatty acids is the main cause of increased blood cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL-C, which subsequently causes narrowing of the arterial lumen, formation of atherosclerosis, and increased risk of coronary heart disease.

However, it is irresponsible to talk about harm without considering the dosage. In other words, there is no junk food, only junk way of eating.

The Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents recommends that the saturated fatty acid intake of an average adult should not exceed 10% of the total daily calories. For example, for an adult who needs 2,000 kcal of calories per day, the amount of saturated fat he or she consumes should be controlled at around 22 grams per day; if all of it is converted into lard, it would be around 56 grams, or about one tael.

That is to say, even if you eat lard, as long as the total amount of saturated fatty acids in a day does not exceed the standard, it is healthy. However, it should be pointed out here that although the saturated fatty acid content of eating one or two lard a day will not exceed the requirements of the dietary guidelines, it does not mean that eating one or two lard is healthy, because we have other foods besides lard, and other foods also contain saturated fatty acids. When the total amount of saturated fatty acids in all foods exceeds the standard, it will also be harmful to health. This is why some people eat according to the requirements but still eat unhealthy.

Can lard residue prevent cancer? In recent years, more and more people have been eating lard residue. Besides the fact that it is delicious, there is another reason that some people say that lard residue can prevent cancer. Their reason is very simple. In the past, when people ate lard, few people got cancer. Later, when everyone switched to eating peanut oil, the number of people suffering from cancer increased significantly, so they came to the conclusion that lard can prevent cancer.

Obviously, this view is untenable. If we really follow the above statement, except for the changes in cooking oil, other environments, eating habits, work and rest habits, etc. should remain unchanged to make sense. However, this is obviously unrealistic. According to current research, the increase in cancer is closely related to environmental pollution, eating habits, and increased life pressure. Therefore, lard residue is not reliable in preventing cancer.

Suggestions on lard residue Generally speaking, it is not that you cannot eat lard residue, but you should eat less of it. After all, in addition to lard, the meat, eggs, milk, nuts, biscuits, vegetable oils and other foods we consume every day contain saturated fat. It is very likely that lard is not even here, and the daily intake of saturated fat far exceeds the recommended amount for health. Therefore, you should still eat less lard. After all, current mainstream research believes that excessive intake of saturated fatty acids increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.