During an intervention on TikTok, Raphaël Gruman, nutrition expert, designated the three most harmful cold meats for your health. Between saturated fats, high calories and controversial substances, here’s what you need to know to make informed choices.
Saturated fats dangerous for the arteries
Mortadellaemblematic of Italian gastronomy, tops the list of products to limit. According to Raphael Gruman, “what poses a problem is the content of
saturated fatsresponsible for the formation of atherosclerotic plaques in the arteries. These plaques can lead to serious cardiovascular complications. The nutritionist therefore recommends consuming this product in moderationpaying attention to quantity and frequency.
Rillettes: a concentrate of fats and calories
Other pinned product: pork rilletteswhich stand out for their richness in fat. “Roughly 50% of the product is made up of fat”explains the expert, taking as an example a well-known brand containing 40 grams of lipids per 100 grams. Consuming this type of cold meats spread on bread, as we often do, further increases calorie intake
with an extra dose of carbohydrates. Not an ideal cocktail for health.
Sausage: the most caloric cold meats
Finally, the flagship product of aperitifs, the
sausagewins the prize for the most caloric product. With 460 calories per 100 gramsit is also high in saturated fat. “The problem is that we often consume it in
large quantities in France, particularly during convivial moments”underlines Raphaël Gruman. This habit contributes to excessive lipid intake, promoting cardiovascular disease and obesity.
Nitrites: an invisible but real danger
Beyond saturated fats and calories, nitrites present in many cold meats, particularly white ham, pose a serious problem. Used to improve preservation and give an attractive color to products, these additives (E249, E250, E251, E252) are
classified as potentially carcinogenic. Emmanuel Ricard, spokesperson for the League Against Cancer, denounces their role in the development of more than 4,000 annual cases of stomach and colorectal cancers.
Regular consumption of processed meats is also associated with increased risks of
diabetes andhypertensionaccording to several studies.
Read also : Not all cold meats are fatty
How to limit the risks?
If you are a charcuterie lover, don’t panic. The dietitian simply recommendsconsume it in moderation and to favor better quality products, handcrafted and nitrite-free. “You can treat yourself from time to time with a piece of sausage, but it must remain occasional,” he recalls.