Sliced ham is popular as a sandwich meat or a dish at mealtime, but you may be wondering about the number of calories in ham and whether it is healthy for weight loss.
This article will explore how ham is made, its different types, its nutritional value, and its risks, as well as its benefits.
Ham is raw pork meat cut from the back leg of a pig. Ham producers cut and clean the meat. After that, they process the ham by curing it with salt or smoking it. You can also get fresh ham, which is uncured. You can get ham with or without the bone.
Nutrition Facts First of all, yes, ham is a lean meat. Glazed ham — with bone-in — is about 190 calories and 11 grams of fat per serving (that’s about 3 ounces). However, typical glazed ham recipes usually suggest a 1-pound serving per person, which ups those figures to 760 calories with 44 grams of fat.
How is ham made?
Ham producers make ham in three ways:
Traditional cured or smoked ham with the bone. Pork meat from the hind legs of pigs is cut and transported to the processing plant according to its weight. Ham producers then trim some of the collar fat and skin. They pump brine or salt water into the meat using a syringe and tie it up with a net. Netting creates a distinct, rectangular pattern on the ham and keeps its shape intact during processing.
The ham is then placed on a platform for thermal processing. Thermal processing involves heating the ham at more than 144 degrees Fahrenheit to kill the parasitic roundworms trichinella spiralis. The ham is then chilled, wrapped with paper, and boxed.
Boneless, premium ham. Ham producers source pork meat as usual but completely remove its fat and skin. They then pump brine into the meat, then massage and tumble the ham. They tie a net around the ham or encase it. For example, some producers use ham molds to shape the meat before processing. After processing, the ham is chilled, cut, and packaged.
Boneless, sectioned, or chopped and formed. These are made like boneless, premium hams, but the bicep muscles of the pig are cut into smaller pieces with the leg and knuckle muscles. The chopped pieces are then tumbled and massaged, so they stick to each other and form a larger piece.
What are the benefits of ham?
As mentioned, ham is rich in vitamins and minerals, which boost your immune system and keep your body healthy. It is also a rich source of protein and energy.
On top of that, Ham has the following health benefits:
Reduces inflammation. Dry-cured ham contains compounds known as biopeptides. These prevent inflammatory responses in your body and protect your cells from disease and infection. However, beneficial biopeptides are not found in cooked ham.
Reduces cholesterol and may improve blood pressure . Animal studies show that active biopeptides found in dry-cured ham can help reduce blood pressure. They have antioxidant properties that can reduce inflammation and oxidative cell damage. They also prevent the build-up of cholesterol in your blood and improve blood lipid levels. So, having small quantities of ham may be good for your health.
Cured ham nutrition facts (calories, fats, proteins, carbohydrates, and more)
FAQ
How many calories are in a slice of baked ham?
How many calories are there in baked ham?
Protein
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21.3g
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Carbs
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0g
|
Fat
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1.7g
|
Is baked ham good for a diet?
How many calories are in 4 ounces of baked ham?
How many calories in baked ham?
There are 242 calories in 100 g of Baked Ham. (add to counter) in the table. * Press the vertical button “calories counter” to close a counter. Copyright © 2017 your-calories.net. All rights reserved.
Is honey baked ham as good as regular ham?
The addition of honey will affect the calorie content of the food. One tablespoon of honey contributes to approximately 64 calories. In addition, the use of heat when making baked ham will reduce the quality of the honey.
How many calories are in Honey Baked Ham?
There are 160 calories in 3 oz (84 g) of HoneyBaked Honey Baked Ham. Calorie breakdown: 50% fat, 10% carbs, 40% protein. There are 160 calories in 3 oz (84 g) of HoneyBaked Honey Baked Ham. Get full nutrition facts for other HoneyBaked products and all your other favorite brands.
How many calories are in a roasted ham?
If you have a thick 3-ounce slice of roasted ham, you could have upwards of over 230 calories. But if you trim away the fat as much as possible before cooking, your calorie count could go down to closer to 180 calories. Regular cured deli ham provides between 130 and 140 calories from 3 ounces.