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The benefits of acorn-fed ham for our health

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9 Comments
(4.5)
Posted on: 28/02/2022

The benefits of eating ham for our organism

Eating Iberian ham has an anti-inflammatory effect, thanks to the presence of monounsaturated fatty acids (omega-9), such as oleic acid, which help to reduce the risk of suffering from cardiovascular diseases.

A large part of the fat in acorn-fed Iberian pork is oleic acid. This type of fat increases beneficial cholesterol in the blood and reduces "bad" cholesterol, resulting in a beneficial effect on cholesterol, as shown by several scientific studies published in the most prestigious scientific journals.

Cured products made from acorn-fed Iberian pigs (such as Iberian ham) can contain an accumulation of unsaturated fatty acids (oleic acid) of over 75%, surpassed only by virgin olive oil, and are therefore more beneficial to the body than many products of vegetable origin, making them the most "heart-healthy" animal fat products on the market.

There are already rigorous scientific studies that show that these unsaturated fats found in acorn-fed Iberian ham help to increase the rate of "good" cholesterol and reduce "bad" cholesterol, producing a beneficial effect on blood cholesterol.

According to the study "Health effects of eating acorn-fed Iberian ham", published in the prestigious British Journal of Nutrition, eating acorn-fed Iberian ham can reduce the risk of suffering from cardiovascular diseases by 21%.

The consumption of acorn-fed Iberian ham improves the blood lipid profile, reducing the risk of suffering from cardiovascular diseases.

According to the study "The effect of Jamón Ibérico de Bellota on human health", published in the prestigious scientific journal Food Chemistry, the consumption of acorn-fed Iberian ham improves nutritional status and reduces the risk of suffering from cardiovascular diseases.

As if all this were not enough, Iberian ham is an important source of proteins of high biological value, capable of acting as an excellent substitute for red meat, with a moderate calorie intake, similar to that of bread (less than 250 kcal/100g), so that its moderate consumption makes it compatible with a low-calorie diet.

It also provides the body with a high content of vitamins such as B1, which helps to overcome stress and anxiety, B3, B6, B12, vitamin E which acts as an antioxidant and folic acid, essential for the nervous system and brain function, and minerals such as copper, calcium, iron, zinc, magnesium, phosphorus and selenium, the latter being closely related to anti-ageing processes.

As for the composition of the different types of ham, acorn-fed Iberian ham has a higher proportion of monounsaturated fats, which are beneficial for the heart (52.9%) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (6.8%) than Serrano ham (39.5% and 3.8%, respectively). It also has a higher amount of antioxidants, such as vitamin E (0.56 mg/100 g compared to 0.27 mg/100 g in Serrano ham).

The only unhealthy element that we can find in an acorn-fed Iberian ham or in a good Serrano ham, produced without preservatives, would be salt, which in reality acts as a natural preservative that is essential for the production of the product, otherwise the meat would rot.

Among the different types of ham that exist, Spanish ham contains the least salt of all, with Iberian ham having the lowest salt content, between 2 and 4%, while Serrano ham can reach levels of up to 5%, while other hams, such as Bayonne ham or Parma ham, have higher salt levels than Spanish ham.

Saturated fats are responsible for raising blood cholesterol and causing cardiovascular diseases. However, acorn-fed Iberian ham has no saturated fats, making it a good choice for our health.

For all these reasons, it is clear that ham in general, and acorn-fed Iberian ham in particular, is a very healthy food that should not be missing from our diet.

In short, moderate consumption of ham is very healthy for the body. It is a source of easily assimilated proteins, ideal for sportsmen and women, with a high iron content that helps to prevent osteoporosis and a high vitamin value, especially vitamin B1, which helps to overcome stress and depression; rich in minerals such as zinc, which improves the capacity for attention, comprehension and retention, and selenium, which helps to prevent cell ageing. Its low carbohydrate content makes it one more food when it comes to slimming diets. Furthermore, in the case of acorn-fed ham, its high polyphenol content, which acts as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory at a vascular level, and its high content of unsaturated fatty acids (oleic acid), whose quantity is only surpassed by virgin olive oil, help to prevent cholesterol and cardiovascular diseases.

Eating ham, especially acorn-fed ham, can be very beneficial for our health.

If you are one of those who take care of yourself and want to enjoy the benefits that ham can bring to your body, in our shop we help you to take care of your health with a wide range of ham made without preservatives. We also have ham without preservatives and low in salt.

Posted in: Food and health

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Comments

  • The consumption of Spanish ham is beneficial to health.
    By: Cheryl On 11/06/2023
    Rating:
    5.0

    Well, if it's not only delicious but also healthy, there can be no better news.

  • The consumption of Spanish ham is beneficial to health.
    By: Amee On 09/06/2023
    Rating:
    3.0

    I had always heard that we should reduce the consumption of sausages, as this type of food is not very healthy.

    Replied by: P. Álvarez On 08/08/2023 Hello Amee,

    First of all, there are different types of ham, and the article only refers to 100% Iberian Bellota ham (Pata Negra ham), as the rest of the hams are not healthy.

    Another aspect to take into account when choosing a healthy ham is to look at its composition and make sure that it is free of preservatives and additives, like many of the hams that you can find on our website.

    Nowadays, most of the hams you can find on the market contain nitrites, which we could say are the opposite of healthy. That is why iberspain encourages you to look for ham free of additives. We warn you that although on our website many of our hams are made only with ham and salt (free of additives and preservatives), it is not so easy to find this type of ham.

  • The consumption of Spanish ham is beneficial to health.
    By: Flynn On 24/05/2023
    Rating:
    5.0

    And Iberian ham from Spain is also delicious.

    Replied by: P. Álvarez On 08/08/2023 Of course, we agree that Spanish ham is really delicious.

  • The consumption of Spanish ham is beneficial to health.
    By: Katrina On 27/04/2023
    Rating:
    2.0

    Ham has nitrites, which are not very healthy.

    Replied by: P. Álvarez On 08/08/2023 Hi Katrina,
    We encourage you to look on our website. You can find many different types of ham, made only with ham and salt. Free of preservatives and additives and therefore free of nitrites, which are indeed not entirely healthy.

    You can look for:
    * 100% DUROC Alpujarra Ham
    https://www.iberspain.co.uk/buscar?controller=search&s=alpujarra

    * Pata Negra de Los Pedroches Ham
    https://www.iberspain.co.uk/buscar?controller=search&s=pedroches

  • The consumption of Spanish ham is beneficial to health.
    By: Vernon On 12/04/2023
    Rating:
    5.0

    I love this news. I couldn't love Iberian ham more.

    Replied by: P. Álvarez On 08/08/2023 Hello Virgilio! Despite Brexit, it is no longer necessary to come to Spain to taste an exquisite ham. You can buy it on our website and we will deliver it to you in the UK.

  • The consumption of Spanish ham is beneficial to health.
    By: Callie On 21/03/2023
    Rating:
    5.0

    Hello! Great news. Every time I go to Spain I take the opportunity to taste this extraordinary product that you make.
    Virgilio.

  • The consumption of Spanish ham is beneficial to health.
    By: Stormy On 09/03/2023
    Rating:
    5.0

    I love Spanish ham, especially 100% Iberian acorn-fed ham, it's amazing.

  • The consumption of Spanish ham is beneficial to health.
    By: Cecil On 18/11/2022
    Rating:
    5.0

    Very good Iberian ham. I've only tasted it once and I was really impressed.

  • The consumption of Spanish ham is beneficial to health.
    By: Serena On 31/10/2022
    Rating:
    5.0

    Spanish Iberian ham is a real treat for the senses. Impressive flavour.