In Leviticus 7:21 does "abominable" mean that pigs and rats are "disgusting and repulsive" or in some sense "spiritually horrible"?

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In Leviticus 7:21 does “abominable” mean that pigs and rats are “disgusting and repulsive” or in some sense “spiritually horrible” or “idolatrous”?:

Lev 7:21 Moreover the soul that shall touch any unclean thing, as the
uncleanness of man, or any unclean beast, or any abominable unclean
thing, and eat of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which
pertain unto the LORD, even that soul shall be cut off from his
people.

In other words, is Leviticus suggesting that pigs and rats are naturally intrinsically unsuitable as food or that it is idolatrous or otherwise spiritually unacceptable to eat them because they are forbidden?

The reason I ask is that if they are intrinsically disgusting and unfit as food then release from the Torah will not change that. If they are merely forbidden for symbolism or what have you then lifting the ban would make them perfectly acceptable to eat just like lettuce or carrots.

Is eating pigs and rats, for example, intrinsically disgusting or simply forbidden by Torah?

And if they were intrinsically disgusting in Leviticus are they not still intrinsically unfit as food even for a “liberated Christian”?

See also:

ISV
Isa 66:17 “Those who consecrate and purify themselves to enter the
groves, following the one at the center of those who eat the meat of
pigs, disgusting things, and rats, are all alike,” says the LORD.

http://www.freebiblecommentary.org/special_topics/abominations.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSjkpiV8xUA

http://www.peta.org/living/food/top-10-reasons-eat-pigs/

http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/02/the-lovely-hill-where-people-live-longer-and-happier/272798/