Many people believe that abstaining from pork is a purely Jewish or Muslim "custom." However, nothing could be further from the truth. The Zulu of South Africa, among other nations of Africa detest the pig as much as Muslims and Jews. Not simply because of religious doctrine but dietary reasons. The Zulu, in particular, according to J.A. Rogers often state that the pig is not for the Black man, only the White man. As Black people our first contact with the pig, in terms of consumption, occured during slavery when the slavemaster would throw out his scraps. And our ancestors, many were Muslim and Yoruba that don't eat pig, were forced to eat it and feed their young. The pig was first domesticated in parts of Europe to help clean up the caves and hillsides that were laid to waste by roving bands of barbaric and pagan "tribes." The pig will eat just about anything including its own feces and its young. This animal is so unclean that it is often considered a living sewer because its intestinal system is not advanced enough to separate nutrients in food from the waste. It has a sewer line that releases puss through its forelegs as you have mentioned. It has also been used to clear rattlesnakes from swamps due to the ability of the toxins in pigs to often counteract the snake venom. The worms in the pig, called trichina, are thought to be "cured" when pork is properly prepared. Even if they are "cured", whatever that means, we have to ask ourselves if we are truly satisfied in eating fried/baked/barbecued worms.

Furthermore, when someone is diagnosed with high blood pressure, heart problems, etc. one of the first foods a doctor tells the patient to limit is pork because of the sheer toxicity of the pig, high cholesterol and fat content, and high sodium.

Remember, only a child considers all things as food and places it in his/her mouth. The pig, despite the fact that it is an animal, is not fit for human consumption. It is true that there are many unclean animals, but does that mean we should become overwhelmed and say the hell with it? No. As spiritual beings we enter houses of worship (churches, mosques, synagogues etc.) and often are very conscious of how we talk, dress, act, and of what we bring into the "house of God." However, we need to also be as conscious, even moreso, of what we put in the "real temple of God", the human body. As of Thursday, June 5th 2003, the pig is still the foulest of all animals.

Please consult various authors and books including Afrikan Holistic Health, How to Eat to Live I & II, LIfe without the Pig, Heal Thyself and many others.