An aperitif without sausage? A sandwich without rillettes? For many, cold meats is one of the guilty or even essential pleasures. But these small daily pleasures may well have more serious consequences than you think. In a video that has become viral on Tiktok, the nutrition expert Raphaël Gruman alerts the excessive consumption of certain cold meats rich in saturated fats, calories, and in additives classified as carcinogenic.
Mortadelle, saturated fat bomb
Star of Italian antipasti, mortadelle hides its game well. According to Raphaël Gruman, “What is problematic is the saturated fat content, responsible for the formation of atheroma plates in the arteries“. These plates gradually obstruct blood vessels, thus promoting cardiovascular disease. The specialist therefore recommends moderating his consumption, and being particularly attentive to the frequency in which it is integrated into meals.
Rillettes: a concentrate of fats in each bite
Second charcuterie targeted: the rillettes, especially those of pork. This product, often spread on bread, has a particularly rich composition. “”About 50 % of the product consists of fat“, Explains the nutritionist. He takes an example a popular brand which contains 40 grams of lipids for 100 grams. And if we add the carbohydrates of the bread, we obtain a substantial energy intake, far beyond daily needs, and which can weigh heavy on the term.
The sausage, record holder of calories
A must of aperitifs, the sausage is the third product pointed out by Raphaël Gruman. With 460 calories per 100 grams, it is a real calorie bomb. And its high content of saturated fat makes it particularly harmful when consumed in too large quantities. “”The problem is that we often consume it in large quantities in France, especially during user -friendly moments“He says. A well-established habit that promotes overweight and associated pathologies.
Nitrites: the invisible danger
Beyond fat and calories, another factor worries public health specialists: nitrites. Present in many cold meats, including white ham, these additives (E249 to E252) improve the conservation and color of the product. But their innocentness is called into question. Emmanuel Ricard, spokesperson for the league against cancer, alert: “Nitrites are responsible for more than 4,000 annual cases of stomach and colorectal cancer“. A freezing statistic, which led some producers to offer alternatives without nitrites.
Faced with these worrying findings, should we banish any cold meats of his diet? Not necessarily, according to Raphaël Gruman. He recommends turning to better quality products, ideally artisanal and without controversial additives. Above all, moderation remains the key word. “”You can have fun from time to time with a piece of sausage, but it must remain occasional“, He recalls.
