Our country is a large producer of sausagesof all kinds and conditions. Among them the cooked ham, one of the most consumed. But is he really as healthy as we think? We analyze the characteristics of this popular food.
What is really cooked ham?
Although there are infinity of varieties of cooked ham, this sausage is, in general, that which comes from the hind legs of pigs, which after being boned, cooked and put in brine, is treated and converted into the food we all know. If instead of the hind legs the front legs are used, we find ourselves before the cooked shoulder, with similar characteristics but with more nerves.
In addition, today it is possible to find all kinds of cooked ham in supermarkets and delicatessens: extra-thin, natural, salt-free, low-fat... In the end, they are different shades of the same product. That is why it is important to read the labels of the products well, whether it is bought in a package or if it is bought in bulk.
What we must do first is choose the one that Higher percentage of meat you have, either from a well-known brand or from the private label. Reviewing the labels you may take the surprise knowing that the most recognized brand is less recommended than the brand without a famous label.
Healthy hands than it seems
Although it is a ally for diets, cooked ham, is less healthy than we think. If we compare it, for example, with chorizo or salami, ham has some caloric levels lower than the other sausages, so it is an ally to keep weight at bay. But everything has its pros and cons. treatment with brine, a mixture of water and sodium chloride, causes high levels of salt, so its consumption must be moderate for hypertensive people.
This sausage, although it does not have a level of lipids excessively high, it provides saturated fats, including bad cholesterol. In specific cases, when there are cardiovascular problems or high cholesterol, it should not be consumed in excess. Both people with these problems, as with hypertensive, nutritionists recommend the consumption of sausages low in salt and fat.
cat in a hare
When going to the supermarket we can find ourselves on the label with two words that should make us doubtPairing: cooked ham (or york) and pork cold cuts. That is why you have to read the labels well, but not those of the caloric table, if not in those of the ingredients of the product.
Products with the denomination of cold cuts are made up of starches, that is, vegetable proteins. This type of sausage has less meat and more amounts of water. Cold cuts contain 50-60% meat, less than ham, which makes it a much smaller product. In the production of cooked ham it is normal to add other types of additives, but never, under any circumstances, starches or starches, which are present in cold cuts.
Furthermore, for the 'extra' variety of cooked ham can be called that, it must contain around 85% meat and have low levels of ingredients such as sugars, which makes it a much juicier product.
Does it have any benefits?
As we have already mentioned, cooked ham is an ally for Diets for its low caloric level, but despite being a product with its contraindications, Not everything is bad in this type of product. Its contribution in carbohydrates is relatively low, and its richness in proteins helps the muscle development of the body. It also provides iron, essential for people with anemia problems. On the other hand, this sausage contains vitamin B, which helps regulate the circulation.
In short, when we go to the supermarket or delicatessen, we have to fix us in what we buy. It is in everyone's health to acquire the most suitable products for our well-being. Are you going to look at what you really buy next time?
