If you have been searching for the “best” food restaurants then you might have come across the term “Joo Chon”, which is another name for roasted pork knuckle. But do you know what it really means? Pork knuckle, or Joo Chon in Korean, is a dish that consists of meat from a pig’s shoulder or neck roasted with lots of spices and vegetables and served in a sweet soy sauce broth. In terms of taste, it could easily be compared to bœuf bourguignon since both are roast meat dishes that are made by braising meat with vegetables and herbs. However, pork knuckle is often not as dry as bœuf bourguignon because of its serving broth.
Benefits
1. Helps to maintain bone and joint health
Pork knuckle is a fine example of how meat can help prevent osteoporosis because it is a high-quality animal protein. Additionally, the bones in pork knuckles contain calcium and phosphorus, both of which are helpful in building stronger bones.
2. It is rich in essential nutrients for growth and development in young children
One of the main reasons why this food was considered a “food for royalty” in ancient times was because it was said that even kings had to be on their best behavior with their loved ones when this dish was served. This cultural belief can be justly explained by the fact that roasted pork knuckle are a great source of vitamin B6 and vitamin B12, both of which are essential nutrients for growth and development in children.
3. It is extremely rich in selenium
You know selenium is an essential trace mineral that helps protect our body against cancer, heart disease, and arthritis, right? Well, one serving of pork knuckle contains more than 100% of the daily recommended amount of this critical nutrient. That’s more than we can say about any other meat dish out there!
4. It is rich in vitamins A, B1, and B6
Pork knuckle has more omega-3 fatty acids than salmon and doesn’t contain any form of cholesterol. That’s quite a feat when you look at the fact that pork knuckle is also a source of vitamin B6, which is one of the most important nutrients in eggs.
5. It alleviates insomnia and depression
In this modern world where we suffer from insomnia due to our stress, it may be hard to believe but ancient culture also knew about this problem. A study conducted in 2009 showed that people who ate roasted pork knuckle at nighttime were able to fall asleep faster and sleep longer than those who ate the same dish during the day. It is the best.
6. It is a good source of calcium for women
Unlike most other sources of calcium such as milk, fish, and cheese, pork knuckle is rich in a form of calcium that can naturally be absorbed by the body without any disturbance from the digestive system. The “meat” part of this meat dish contains about 10 times more calcium than a glass (500 ml) of milk.
7. It contains high levels of l-carnitine
L-carnitine is a substance in meat that helps with weight loss, promotes fat metabolism, and helps the body utilize essential fatty acids. In other words, l-carnitine is like a super car to fat burning in the body.
8. It is rich in iron and calcium
Unlike most other types of meat such as beef and chicken, pork knuckle does not contain any cholesterol or saturated fats. In fact, pork knuckle contains almost twice as much iron and calcium as chicken!