World's most nutritious meat is 'healthier' to eat than green peas

World's most nutritious meat is 'healthier' to eat than green peas It outperforming many fruits and vegetables including peas, tomatoes and oranges in nutritional value, according to BBC Future. We all know that eating fruit and vegetables is good for you; it's practically the number one rule when it comes to a healthy lifestyle. Yet one animal product has been ranked as healthier than a whole host of green foods. In a league table of the world's 100 most nutritious foods compiled by a scientific study, pork fat broke the top 10. Scoring 73 out of 100 for its nutritional value, the unlikely contender came out ahead of foods like green peas, tomatoes, and mackerel. Researchers calculated more than a thousand foods to create the ranking. The score indicates how likely a given food would meet daily nutritional needs when eaten in combination with others. Why is pork fat good for you? Pork fat is a rich source of B vitamins and minerals. It contains monounsaturated fats such as oleic acid — also found in olive oil — which is known to be beneficial for heart health. The fat also contains some saturated fats, as well as more unsaturated fat than beef or lamb fat. It is also worth considering how the pigs were reared in order to get the full nutritional benefit. Pork fat is a good source of fat-soluble vitamins such as Vitamin D, particularly when the pigs have been raised outdoors, reports Surrey Live. And pork fat from pasture-raised pigs tends to be the healthier option because it has more nutrients. So, next time you tuck into a fatty piece of pork, don't be so hard on yourself. As with everything, moderation is key. See more of the stories you love from Mirror Online and find us easily in Google by making us a Preferred Source. Free and easy to do, just click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings. What are pork fat and lard — and what is the difference? It is also worth noting that pork fat and lard are not one and the same thing, despite being closely related. Pork fat is raw fat from pigs. It is not typically used directly in recipes unless you're making sausage or grinding it into a dish. On the other hand, lard is pig fat that has been melted down and strained. The resulting shelf-stable ingredient can be used in place of butter, oil, or shortening. It is shelf-stable or fridge-stable. Top 20 healthiest foods At the top of the list was almonds with a nutritional score of 97, whilst pork fat scored 73. Notably, no other animal fat or meat featured on the list. A number of fish featured on the list of healthiest foods to eat, with Ocean Perch claiming the top position. It came third on a list of the most nutritious foods, achieving an impressive 89 out of 100. According to Facts.net, 100g of this fish contains just 79 calories but delivers around 20 grams of protein. This deep-water fish, also referred to as rockfish, is low in saturated fats. - Almonds: 97 - Cherimoya: 96 - Ocean perch: 89 - Flatfish: 88 - Chia seeds: 85 - Pumpkin seeds: 84 - Swiss chard: 78 - Pork fat: 73 - Beet greens: 70 - Snapper: 69 - Dried parsley: 69 - Celery flakes: 68 - Watercress: 68 - Tangerines: 67 - Green peas: 67 - Pike: 65 - Alaska pollock: 65 - Green onion: 65 - Red cabbage: 65 - Pacific cod: 64