Pork is the culinary name for meat from the domestic pig. It is the most widely consumed meat worldwide. Pork meat is generally produced from young animals, 6-7 months old and weighing around 80-110 kg. A pig will yield 70-85% of its weight in meat. Traditionally, pork meat was an integral part of the Messinian diet. It can be spit-roasted, boiled, stewed in a red sauce, with wild greens and celeriac, or served with home made pasta. A local delicacy of Messinia is smoked cured pork or pasto.
Pork meat contains high biological value protein, complex B vitamins, iron, zinc, and selenium. It actually constitutes one of the best sources of iron, magnesium, B12 vitamin and zinc. However, it also is a source of saturated (bad) fat and cholesterol, hence the recommendation of low consumption of pork. Compared, though, to the meat of ruminants (cows and sheep), pork meat contains more unsaturated fat.