Is Pork Sung Bad For You? Examining the Health Effects of This Popular Topping

Pork sung, also known as pork floss or rousong, is a common condiment and ingredient used in Chinese, Taiwanese, and Southeast Asian cuisines. It consists of dried, shredded pork that resembles cotton candy in texture. Some people wonder if eating pork sung is bad for your health due to its high sodium content. This article reviews the nutrition, benefits, downsides, and overall health effects of pork sung.

What is Pork Sung?

Pork sung is made by slowly stewing pork, often using cuts like pork belly or tenderloin, until very tender. The meat is then shredded into thin, stringy fibers and cooked further with seasonings like soy sauce, shaoxing wine, sesame oil, and spices.

The finished product has a fluffy, cotton-like texture that easily adheres to foods. It provides a savory slightly sweet umami flavor. Pork sung can be used as a condiment, sprinkled on items like congee buns, and noodles, or incorporated into fillings and toppings.

Nutrition Profile of Pork Sung

The exact nutrition content of pork sung can vary based on factors like the cut of pork used, cooking method, and seasonings

In general, a 1 ounce (28 gram) serving of pork sung contains approximately:

Calories: 90
Protein: 8 grams
Fat: 4 grams
Carbs: 2 grams
Sodium: 330 mg

So it provides mostly protein, with a bit of fat and carbs as well. However, the sodium content is quite high due to seasonings like soy sauce. Those looking to reduce sodium intake may want to consume pork sung sparingly.

Potential Benefits of Pork Sung

Here are some of the main health benefits associated with eating pork sung:

High in protein – Pork is an excellent source of high-quality, complete protein to support muscle growth and maintenance. The protein in pork sung may help you meet your daily needs.
Umami flavor – Pork sung provides savory umami flavor to foods. Umami may enhance appetite and overall diet quality in older adults.
Convenient – Pork sung is lightweight, portable, and shelf-stable. It can add flavor to snacks, meals, or backpacking foods on-the-go.
Versatile ingredient – Pork sung can quickly elevate flavor inmanytypes of dishes, from congee to scrambled eggs. It works for both Asian and Western recipes.

Potential Downsides of Eating Pork Sung

While pork sung can add lots of flavor, there are some potential downsides to keep in mind:

High in sodium – A 1 ounce serving contains 330 mg sodium, or 14% of the daily limit. High sodium intake may increase blood pressure in salt-sensitive individuals. Those with hypertension or heart disease should use caution.
Lacks nutrients – Pork sung doesn’t offer much nutritional value beyond protein. It misses out on nutrients found in whole pork cuts like B vitamins, iron, zinc and selenium.
Heavily processed – The shredding, drying and seasoning pork sung undergoes is considered heavy processing. Some research links processed meats to health risks.
Food safety – If not stored properly, pork sung could harbor harmful bacteria that can cause foodborne illness. It should be kept sealed and refrigerated.

Is Eating Pork Sung Healthy Overall?

Pork sung can be enjoyed occasionally as part of an otherwise balanced diet. It provides a quick and convenient source of protein and umami flavor.

However, it may be best for those limiting sodium to consume pork sung in small amounts. Pairing it with fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains and other unprocessed foods can help maximize nutrition.

Practice proper food safety when storing pork sung. Also, incorporate a variety of lean proteins like beans, lentils, fish and poultry into your diet rather than relying solely on processed meats.

Overall, pork sung is fine in moderation as part of a varied diet. But other unprocessed protein sources like tofu, chicken, and fish offer more nutritional benefits. Those with hypertension or heart disease should be especially mindful of portion sizes of high-sodium pork sung.

Tips for Using Pork Sung

Here are some ways to incorporate pork sung into your cooking:

Sprinkle on congee or jook for breakfast
Mix into fried rice or noodles
Stuff into buns, dumplings or spring rolls
Top baked potatoes instead of bacon
Garnish scrambled eggs
Fold into mashed sweet potatoes
Add to macaroni and cheese
Use as pizza topping
Mix into dips and spreads

When using pork sung, balance out the sodium by pairing it with fresh produce like leafy greens, avocado, cucumber and cherry tomatoes. Enjoying pork sung alongside fiber-rich whole grains can further boost the nutrition of your meal.

The Bottom Line

Pork sung provides delicious umami flavor but is high in sodium. Consuming it in moderation as part of an overall healthy diet is unlikely to pose major health risks. But those with medical conditions like hypertension should be mindful of portion sizes. Balancing out pork sung’s sodium and fat with more nutrient-dense foods can allow you to enjoy it guilt-free.

Pork Floss – 肉松 – Ròu Sōng / cooking technique / long shelf life without additives

FAQ

Is pork sung good?

Pork floss, also called rousong, is a pantry item living the best of both flavor and texture worlds. These fluffy, matted tufts pack a sweet and savory crunch and dissolve like cotton candy upon first bite, usually all at once.

What is pork sung made of?

Rousong or pork sung (also called pork wool, pork floss or – even less ceremoniously – pork lint) is basically finely shredded, seasoned & dried pork (some claim it’s a jerky, but that’s a misnomer since jerky is dried from raw & whole pieces of meat – whereas rousong is cooked & shredded prior to drying.)

What is the difference between pork sung and pork fu?

Kimbo Brand Sung Cooked Dried Pork 18 oz (1lb, 2oz) A: Pork sung is light and fluffy and literally ”melts” in your mouth. Pork fu is more formed and chewy.

Is pork floss good protein?

Nutritional Aspects of Pork Floss: A Protein-Rich Topping Since it’s primarily made from meat, this dried pork has a good amount of protein in each serving. For about 3.5 ounces of pork floss, you can expect around 45g of protein.

Is pork bad for You?

High levels of carnosine have also been linked to lower fatigue and higher muscle performance in humans. While pork is rich in several important vitamins and nutrients, it can also be high in sodium and saturated fats, two things that should be avoided as part of a healthy diet.

Why is pork not recommended to eat?

This is not true, some cuts like sirloin and pork rump steak, for example, are very healthy, even healthier than beef and chicken. Only the fattest cuts like bacon and crackling should be avoided.

Is pork good for You?

Pork is a rich source of certain vitamins and minerals your body needs to function, like iron and zinc. It’s also an excellent source of high-quality protein. Minimally processed, lean, fully-cooked pork eaten in moderation can provide certain benefits when added to your diet.

Are ultraprocessed pork products bad for You?

“If your eating patterns include a significant amount of ultraprocessed pork products, you’re increasing your risk of adverse conditions such as high blood pressure and cholesterol, heart disease and stroke,” Burdeos adds.