Being one of the most controversial foods in the world there is a tendency for people to have an opinion about Spam. Here are the Spam nutrition facts that you didn’t know about!
Some love it because of its distinctive flavour and flexibility Others consider it to be boring mystery meat.
This article analyzes the nutritional content of Spam and decides if it is good for your health.
What Is Spam?
Spam is a canned, cooked meat product that is made of ground pork and processed ham.
The meat mix is infused with flavouring and preservatives like salt, sugar potato starch and sodium nitrite. It is then canned, sealed and sealed with a vacuum seal.
The product initially gained popularity in World War II as an inexpensive and easy food option to feed soldiers who were fighting overseas.
Nowadays, Spam is sold around the globe and has become an ingredient that is used in many households due to its ability to be prepared in a variety of ways, its ease of preparation, its long shelf life, and ease of use.
Spam is a well-loved canned meat product that is made of ground pork and ham, and other flavors and preservatives.
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Spam Nutrition Facts!
Spam is rich in calories, sodium, fat and calories.
It also offers a bit of protein as well as a variety of micronutrients like potassium, zinc and iron, as well as copper.
Two-ounce (56-gram) portion of Spam is made up of (1):
- Calories: 174
- Protein: 7 grams
- Carbs 2 grams
- Fat 15 grams
- Sodium: 32% of the Reference Daily Intake (RDI)
- Zinc: 7% of the RDI
- Potassium: 4% of the RDI
- Iron: 3% of the RDI
- Copper: 3% of the RDI
Alongside these nutrients, Spam provides small amounts of vitamin C as well as folate, magnesium, and calcium.
Spam is rich in fat, calories and sodium. It also has minerals like zinc, protein as well as copper, iron and.
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Highly Processed
Processed meat can be described as any kind or meat product that’s been curing either in a can, smoked or dried to extend its shelf life and improve its flavor and texture.
Spam is a kind of meat that has been processed, which is served alongside such things as bacon, hot dogs, Salami, beef Jerky, and corned beef.
Consuming processed meats is linked to a myriad of health issues.
Indeed an investigation of 448,568 adult subjects revealed that eating processed meats was associated with a greater risk of developing diabetes as well as coronary heart diseases (2Trusted Source).
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In addition, several other major studies have concluded that eating processed meats could be linked with a higher risk for stomach cancer and colorectal cancer. (3Trusted Source, 4Trusted Source, 5Trusted Source, 6Trusted Source).
In addition processed meat has been linked to a higher chance of developing other illnesses such as chronic obstructive lung illness (COPD) along with hypertension. (7Trusted Source 8Trusted Source).
SUMMARY
Spam is a kind of meat that has been processed, therefore, eating it could be linked with a higher chance of developing diabetes or heart disease COPD and high blood pressure, and some kinds of cancer.
Contains Sodium Nitrite
Spam is made up of sodium nitrite. an ingredient in food that is used to hinder the growth of bacteria as well as to enhance the taste as well as appearance.
But, when exposed to heat or when there is an abundance in the presence of amino acids, these nitrites may transform into nitrosamine an extremely dangerous chemical that has various negative health consequences.
For instance, one analysis of 61 research studies found the consumption of nitrites as well as nitrosamine to an increased chance of developing stomach cancer (9Trusted Source).
A different large review linked nitrite consumption to an increased risk of thyroid cancer as well as brain tumors (10Trusted source).
Other studies have found that there is an association between exposure to nitrite as well as an elevated risk of developing type 1 diabetes. However, the results have been inconsistent (11Trusted source).
SUMMARY
Spam is made up of sodium nitrite, an ingredient in food that could be linked to a higher chance of developing certain types of cancer as well as Type 1 Diabetes.
Loaded With Sodium
Spam is extremely high in sodium, packing almost one-third of your daily amount in a single Serving (1).
A study suggests that certain individuals may be more sensitive to salt’s effects (12Trusted Source).
Patients with high blood pressure could benefit by reducing their sodium intake since studies have proven that reducing sodium intake helps to lower the blood pressure (13Trusted Source 14Trusted Source).
Consuming a lot of salt can cause blood flow issues in people who are salt sensitive and cause problems such as swelling and bloating (15Trusted source).
Furthermore, a study of 10 studies conducted in more than 268,000 individuals linked greater intake of sodium with the risk of developing stomach cancer in a span of 6 to 15 months (16Trusted source).
SUMMARY
It is high in sodium which can be problematic for those who have an allergy to salt or those who suffer from hypertension. Consuming a lot of sodium can be associated with a greater chance of developing stomach cancer.
High in Fat
Spam is extremely rich in fat. It has about 15 grams of fat in a 2 ounce (56-gram) portion (1).
Fat is significantly more calories than carbs or protein and each gram of fat having around the equivalent of nine energy (17Trusted source).
When compared to other sources for protein such as meat, poultry and fish, or legumes such as beans, Spam is significantly higher in calories and fat, but isn’t much in terms of nutritional value.
For instance, gram-for-gram Spam has 7.5 times more fat and almost twice the calories of chicken, and just half of the protein (1 18, 18).
Infrequently eating high-fat food items such as Spam without making changes to other areas of your diet may increase the amount of calories you consume and lead to weight growth over time.
SUMMARY
As compared to other protein sources Spam is rich in calories and fats however, it is low in protein. If you eat a lot of Spam without altering your diet or calorie intake can lead to weight growth.
Convenient and Shelf-Stable
One of the main advantages that comes with Spam is the fact that it’s quick and quick to prepare when you’re short on time or having a limited amount of ingredients on hand.
It’s also shelf-stable making it easier to stock up compared to perishable protein items such as beef or chicken.
Since Spam is cooked, it is able to be eaten straight out of the can , and requires no preparation prior to eating.
It’s also very adaptable and can be added to a variety of recipes.
The most well-known ways to indulge in Spam is to add it to sandwiches, sliders pasta dishes, rice and other foods.
SUMMARY
Spam is easy to store as it is shelf-stable and highly versatile and can be a great addition to many dishes.
