Ekrich Smoked Sausage is a naturally wood-smoked beef sausage, blended with a variety of spices and seasonings. The sausage consists of Angus beef, water, corn syrup and minor amounts of salt, cooking ingredients and preservatives. Like most sausages, Ekrich Smoked Sausage is high in total fat, including saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol.
Total Fat
A 2-oz. serving of Ekrich Smoked Sausage contains 16 g of total fat. Fat is a macronutrient and helps provide energy, protects organs and stores and transports vitamins throughout the body. Fat should account for about 20 to 35 percent of your total caloric intake, and most adults need about 44 to 78 g of fat each day.
Saturated Fat
Saturated fat is a natural fat that exists in meat and dairy products. These fats are bound with hydrogen and solidify at room temperature, making them more difficult to digest. While saturated fat may have some positive effect on the diet, it can increase serum cholesterol levels and be harmful to the cardiovascular system. The American Heart Association recommends limiting saturated fat to less than 7 percent of your total caloric intake. A 2-oz. serving contains 8 g of saturated fat.
Trans Fat
Trans fat is a modified fatty acid created during the manufacture of vegetable oils. These fatty acids become partially hydrogenated due to the bubbling of gas in vegetable oils, giving them a similar structure to saturated fats. Trans fats do not exist naturally, and are particularly harmful to the cardiovascular system. The American Heart Association recommends consuming less than 1 percent of your total caloric intake from trans fats. A 2-oz. serving of Ekrich Smoked Sausage contains 1 g of trans fat.
Unsaturated Fat
While the nutrition facts label does not list unsaturated fat content, you can assume that at least the majority of the remaining 7 g of fat in a 2-oz. serving of Ekrich Smoked Sausage is in the form of unsaturated fats. Unsaturated fats, consisting of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, are healthy and can help reduce blood cholesterol, thereby positively affecting cardiovascular health. At least 70 to 80 percent of your fat intake should come from unsaturated fats.
Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a fat combined with protein. From a dietary standpoint, cholesterol and fat are much the same and provide similar effects in the diet. Diets high in cholesterol can increase total serum cholesterol levels and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. The American Heart Association recommends adults consume less than 300 mg a day, or about 100 mg for every 1,000 total calories. A 2-oz. serving of Ekrich Smoked Sausage contains 25 mg of cholesterol.
References
- Ekrich: Smoked Sausage; Nutrition Facts and Ingredients
- "Essentials of Exercise Physiology"; William D. McArdle; 2006
- Institute of Medicine: Dietary Reference Intakes; Macronutrients; 2005
- American Heart Association: Know Your Fats; May 2011
