Maybe you shouldn’t feel so guilty consuming pork fat after all. According to a recent BBC report, scientists analyzed over 1,000 raw foods to rank how nutritious they are, and they discovered that pork fat is up there with the likes of chia seeds, almonds, and beet greens.

Each food item analyzed was given a nutritional score. The higher the score, the more likely that the food item would meet our daily nutritional needs when eaten in combination with other foods. The result of the study is a list of the 100 most nutritious foods, where pork fat ranks 8th.

Pork fat outrank other food items like arugula, fresh spinach, and bluefin tuna.

Pork fat was given the nutritional score of 73. It bested other healthy food items like squash, salmon, and walnuts.

The study cited by BBC, titled “Uncovering the Nutritional Landscape of Food”, revealed the following top 10 most nutritious foods with their corresponding nutritional scores:

1. Almonds, 97
2. Cherimoya (a type of fruit), 96
3. Ocean perch (a deep-water fish), 89
4. Flatfish, 88
5. Chia seeds, 85
6. Pumpkin seeds, 84
7. Swiss chard, 78
8. Pork fat, 73
9. Beet greens, 70
10. Snapper, 69

Pork fat is a good source of B vitamins and minerals.

It is also healthier and more unsaturated than other meats like beef and lamb. Of course consuming pork fat needs to be done in moderation. According to a Singapore-based nutritionist interviewed by the Chinese Daily, as quoted by Asia One:

“As long as it’s pure and unprocessed, it can be beneficial for the body. For example, meat is a better source of Vitamin B than fat, and essential omega-3 fatty acids are obtained from other foods.”

Many famous healthy foods also made the list.

These include pomegranates (with a nutritional score of 51), pink salmon (52), arugula (55), and kale (62). Other items in the top 100 list include:

11. Dried parsley, 69
12. Celery flakes, 68
13. Watercress, 68
14. Tangerines, 67
15. Green peas, 67
16. Pike, 65
17. Alaska pollock, 65
18. Green onion, 65
19. Red cabbage, 65
20. Pacific cod, 64
21. Scallops, 64
22. Pink grapefruit, 64
23. Dandelion greens, 64
24. Frozen spinach, 64
25. Chili powder, 63
26. Basil, 63
27. Collards, 63
28. Clams, 62
29. Chili peppers, 62
30. Broccoli Raab, 62