You know the old phrase about pigs, right? Well Christien Meindertsma has taken it upon herself to track exactly what happens in the afterlife of a typical pig. Amazingly, our polluting porcine companions are a phenomenal source of everything from cosmetic ingredients to heart valves to the glue that holds sand to sandpaper. This fascinating TED talk may help you transcend your secret wish that every healthy food item came wrapped in bacon. It already kind of does.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRETz2F-heQ]

And as for “using every part of the pig but the squeal,” well, here are a couple of uses for even that:

Squeal:

Oink: