Ibérico Pork meat has an incredibly smooth, nutty flavor that puts it above any other pork you’ve ever had. Maybe you’re looking to get into some of this good living, but now you’re wondering just how much good living you can handle.
Is Iberico Pork Healthy?
Luckily, Iberico is quite healthy for you! Acorn-fed Iberico pigs are left to walk and graze, developing natural muscle along with fat. The uniqueness of Iberico lies within those layers of fat: a fat that’s healthy, full of oleic acid, which is known for lowering bad cholesterol and increases the good kind. Iberico pork meat is also high in beneficial nutrients like calcium, protein, iron, sodium, and even a wealth of vitamins B – including the super healthful B6 and B12.
The wonderful fat of acorn-fed Iberico pork!
This is a superb ingredient, blessed both by its inherent nature and the conditions it’s reared in.
Pork Iberico Nutrition
There’s a reason why Ibérico Ham is so delicious: it has quite a bit of fat. The acorn-heavy diet the pork receives gives the meat its delicious flavor, but also fattens them up.
Luckily, it is monosaturated fat (as opposed to trans-unsaturated fat, or trans-fat), which is a part of any healthy diet and has shown to have significant health benefits when consumed in moderation.
Need more proof? Here's some hard science for you: a recent study from the Ramon y Cajal Hospital of Madrid, published in The Journal of Nutrition Health and Aging concluded that a diet of 1.7 ounces a day of Ibérico Ham resulted in noticeable improvements in cardiovascular health. A nutritional analysis performed by the University of Extremadura also praised the ham’s “high protein content” and its usefulness as a source of iron, potassium, and phosphorous.
Just like a premium chocolate or a fine wine, Ibérico Pork in moderation, is likely healthier than many things you have in your fridge right now, especially your store-bought ham!
Of course, this requires that you get your product from reputable sources that follow the industry’s best practices. At Gourmet Food Store we get our Ibérico Pork from some of Spain’s most prominent “mataderos”, including Embutidos Fermin , Vallehermoso , and Finca Helechal. With over 50 years in the industry, you can trust that you are getting some of the highest quality pork that Spain can offer.
Ready to try your hand at cooking Iberico Pork? Browse our chef-designed Iberico Pork Recipes!