“The Hidden Dangers of Pork. Depression, Dementia, and the Second Brain”

Pork

Let’s have a real conversation today—one that many of us were never taught to have growing up. We’ve heard about mental health. We’ve heard about soul food. But what if I told you those two things are more connected than we realize?

Most of us think about therapy, prayer, or maybe taking a break when we talk about mental wellness—and that’s important. But what if I told you the food on our plate—especially pork—might be playing a bigger role in how we feel emotionally, mentally, and even spiritually? This isn't about guilt. It's about knowing better so we can do better.

Let’s Take It Back: Where Pork Became a Staple

We have to be honest about where some of our eating habits come from. During slavery, our ancestors were given the leftovers—scraps from the pig that no one else wanted. And through pure creativity, we made do. We seasoned it, slow-cooked it, and made something out of nothing. That’s where soul food came from. It was survival.

But now, we’re not surviving—we’re trying to live. And some of the very foods we used to get by might be holding us back today—especially when it comes to our health.

So What’s the Problem with Pork?

Let’s get into the science for a second. There’s something called Trichinella spiralis—a parasitic worm found in pork. If you’ve ever heard of trichinosis, that’s what causes it.

To order the official copy of " How To Eat To Live" visit www.noi.org

The Honorable Elijah Muhammad warned us in How To Eat To Live that pork is not only spiritually unclean, but physically dangerous. He said:

“The best defense against the pig is DO NOT EAT IT… Thorough and slow cooking of pork does not remove the danger of the worms found in all pork.”

And guess what? The Mayo Clinic backs that up. They explain how trichinosis happens when you eat raw or undercooked pork, and how those parasites can spread through your bloodstream and settle in your muscles—causing all kinds of issues that can stick with you for life.

But It’s Deeper Than Just Worms—Let’s Talk Mental Health

Here’s where it gets even more serious.

Science is starting to link processed pork—like bacon, sausage, ham—to mental health problems. I’m talking about depression, anxiety, brain fog, and even mania.

• A 2017 meta-analysis published in Public Health Nutrition found that people who eat more processed meats had a much higher chance of experiencing depressive symptoms.

  
  

• Another study linked red and processed meats to a greater risk of dementia, while switching to plant-based proteins like lentils or nuts reduced that risk by nearly 20%.

  
  

• Then there’s the 2018 Johns Hopkins study that connected nitrates (found in cured meats like hot dogs and bacon) to manic episodes. Researchers believe these preservatives mess with the gut—and the gut is directly connected to the brain.

And you’ve probably heard this before: the gut is called our “second brain.” It produces most of our serotonin—the stuff that keeps our mood balanced. So when we eat foods that destroy our gut health, we’re also messing with our emotional well-being.

Let’s Not Ignore the Spiritual Side Either

Islam. Judaism. Even some Christian denominations. They all say the same thing: stay away from pork. Why? Because it’s considered unclean—not just in body, but in spirit.

Think about that. Long before lab coats and peer-reviewed journals, our ancestors had spiritual laws that protected them. Maybe those laws weren’t just about obedience—but about health.

 If we really look at the scriptures—both the Bible and the Qur’an—we’ll see that pork has always been off-limits for a reason.

In the Bible, the Book of Leviticus 11:7–8 says it plain and simple: the pig is unclean. “Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcass shall ye not touch.” It’s repeated again in Deuteronomy 14:8 just to make the point clear. And in Isaiah 66:17, it warns of judgment for those who eat swine’s flesh and other unclean things.

Though the New Testament is often used to justify eating pork, Jesus himself, as a Torah-observant, followed the dietary laws. He stated in Matthew 5:17, “Think not that I come to destroy the law… but to fulfill the law.” Jesus lived by the commandments of the Torah, which clearly forbids the consumption of pork.

He lived by those laws, including the dietary restrictions. So despite what people might say about the New Testament making pork okay, the man they say they follow never ate it.

The Qur’an also lines up with this. In Surah Al-Baqarah 2:173, Al-An’am 6:145, and

An-Nahl 16:115, pork is called impure and forbidden—except in cases of extreme necessity where survival is at stake. It's not just a rule; it's a warning for our health, our spirit, and our discipline.

So when we really look at it, both scriptures are saying the same thing. Pork isn’t meant to be part of our diet. And maybe—just maybe—it’s time we listen. Not out of fear, but out of love for our bodies, our minds, and the divine wisdom that came long before science caught up.

Black Mental Health Matters—And So Does Our Diet

Let’s take a look at some real numbers from the Office of Minority Health:

• Suicide is now the third leading cause of death for Black youth ages 10 to 24.

• Black males are taking their lives at four times the rate of Black females.

• Black folks living in poverty are twice as likely to report serious psychological distress.

These aren’t just stats—they’re red flags. And while therapy, community, and prayer are part of the solution, we’ve got to put food in that conversation too. You can’t pray your way through depression if your gut and brain are inflamed by the foods you’re eating every day.

So, What Can We Do?

You don’t have to throw everything out overnight. But you can start small.

Try swapping out processed meats for beans, lentils, fresh greens. Try one meatless day a week. Read those labels. Ask questions. Watch how your mind feels when your plate gets cleaner.

Because the truth is—what we feed the body, we also feed the soul. Let’s eat like our lives depend on it—because they do.

Sources and References

1. Elijah Muhammad. How To Eat To Live, Vol. 1 & 2

2. Mayo Clinic. “Trichinosis (Trichinellosis).” www.mayoclinic.org

3. Li Y, Lv MR, Wei YJ, et al. “Dietary patterns and depression risk: A meta-analysis.” Public Health Nutrition, 2017.

4. Zhang ZX, Xu Q, et al. “Red and processed meat consumption and risk of cognitive disorders.” The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2020.

5. Johns Hopkins Medicine. “Nitrates in cured meats may be tied to mania.” www.hopkinsmedicine.org

6. Cryan JF, Dinan TG. “Mind-altering microorganisms: the impact of the gut microbiota on brain and behavior.” Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 2012.

7. Office of Minority Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “Mental and Behavioral Health – African Americans.” www.minorityhealth.hhs.gov