Healthy cured meats and sausages in order from more to less healthy
Would you like to enjoy a completely guilt-free diet? At Enrique Tomás, we will explain which cured meats and sausages are considered healthier options, how they affect cholesterol levels, their calories, and their protein content.
Sausage or cured meat?
There is a tendency to confuse sausage with cured meat, but they are not the same either in form or in the production process.
Sausage
A preparation consisting of a natural or synthetic casing stuffed with minced pork, bacon, blood, or other ingredients and seasonings. It can be presented raw, cooked, cured, or smoked. Examples: chorizo, salchichón, longaniza.
Cured meat
A whole piece of the animal that is cured as it is, using salt and time, without additives. For this reason, Iberian ham and Serrano ham are totally discarded as sausages.
The healthiest options, ranked from most to least
Cured meats
Cured meat
A premium-quality product with a rich and distinctive flavour. Its meat contains 50% more protein than fresh meat, as well as being rich in vitamin B, zinc, calcium, magnesium, iron, selenium, copper, and phosphorus. When enjoyed in moderation, its infiltrated fat is healthy and does not make you gain weight.
In addition, its high content of oleic acid helps reduce bad cholesterol and may benefit the immune system.
Cured meat
Obtained from the hind legs of the white breed pig. This product is low in fat and rich in nutrients: calcium, B and D vitamins, iron, magnesium, zinc, potassium, and phosphorus. Its consumption is recommended to prevent osteoporosis.
At Enrique Tomás we call it Gran Reserva, and we take care of even the smallest detail to guarantee the highest quality.
Lentil salad with Serrano ham
Eggplant roll with Serrano ham
Sausages
Sausage
Made from the leanest cuts of pork, without mixing with meat from other parts of the animal. It is seasoned with garlic, oregano, and paprika, and then stuffed into natural intestines. Rich in protein, sodium, potassium, phosphorus, iron, magnesium, zinc, calcium, and vitamins K, E, B1, B12, and B3.
Note: Not recommended for people suffering from high blood pressure because of its sodium content.
Sausage
Cooked ham (York ham)
Rich in protein, iron, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, and vitamins K, B3, B4, and B1. However, it has a high sodium content, so its consumption is not recommended for people suffering from hypertension, nor is it suitable for diabetics as it usually contains sugars.
Sausage
Turkey breast
Low in fat, high in protein, 75% water, and rich in B vitamins. Ideal for sandwiches, salads, or simply enjoyed as an appetizer.
Attention: Not all turkey cold cuts are suitable for slimming diets or gluten-free diets. Its composition may include salt, milk, flour, and starches. Always read the label.
Sausage
Chicken breast
Nutritional value very similar to that of turkey breast, and also low in fat. When buying packaged cold cuts, choose products with a higher meat content and avoid those containing sugar, flour, or starch. The cheapest cold cuts are not always the healthiest.
Are there any less recommended sausages?
Although cold cuts in general provide a great amount of nutrients, some are more recommendable than others due to their content of saturated fats, cholesterol, and salt. Products like chorizo, mortadella, salami, or bacon have a bad reputation, but if we are talking about Iberian sausages, they will always be a much healthier option.
Remember to consume them without abusing them and pay close attention to their origin. At Enrique Tomás you will find the highest quality sausages, because we develop our products with people's health in mind. Go ahead and put together a great cured meat platter!
Buy now your Iberian ham or Serrano ham and enjoy all its benefits.
