See What Happens Inside Your Body When You Eat Pork - And Why You Should Avoid It

Bacon, ham, pork chops - all of these food items are undoubtedly delicious, but they all share one common thread. They come from pigs.

Yes, pork carries a ton of protein in its various forms, but there's also something else that lurks beneath the surface: parasites. These tiny, microscopic parasites work their way into your body and wreak havoc on your organs.

Parasites thrive in pigs' bodies and can easily survive to the very moment you take a bite out of that pork chop or munch on that slice of bacon. In fact, according to a recent study by Consumer Reports, 69 percent of the crude pork items they studied were contaminated with the harmful bacteria Yersinia enterocolitica.

The Center for Disease Control states that this serious strain of bacteria can cause fever, abdominal pain, and diarrhea that lasts for a whopping one to three weeks. All of this from simply eating a piece of pork!

The rampant bacteria in pigs actually makes sense when you think about it from a scientific angle. Since pigs are scavenger animals, they eat anything they can get their snouts on. That could mean strange fruits and vegetables they see nearby, urine-covered food items, even their own feces. Due to their hindered digestive system, the harmful foods and bacteria they carelessly eat can be easily and directly transferred over to humans.

As for the pig farms that feed their animals food infused with a low-level antibiotic, they may be doing more harm than good. "Superbugs," as they're called, are fostered in a habitat where they can grow stronger against antibiotics through repeated contact. Soon a bacteria is formed that is nearly impossible to treat with medicine, and humans are left defenseless.

But if you're a pork fanatic, there is a bit of good news. Cooking the meat to the correct temperature and strictly buying hormone and antibiotic-free pork can save you from pain and potential spreading of disease.

Make sure to thoroughly cook raw pork items to an internal temperature of at least 145° F, and ground pork to an internal temperature of at least 160° F. Doing so will kill most potentially dangerous parasites. You should also be sure to keep raw pork products away from other items eaten raw, like salads and fruits.

If a parasite has made it into your body, it will continue to strengthen with every protein-rich pork meal you eat. The only way to truly rid yourself of these parasites is with a thorough colon cleanse.

See how horrible pork is for your body in this chilling video!