Pork is a nutritious meat, filled with protein, minerals and B vitamins. Although somewhat high in fat, pork can help you meet many of your daily nutritional needs. Smoked pork can be higher in sodium than pork prepared in other ways because the meat is often cured with salt for long periods of time. You can smoke any cut of pork, although smoked pork sausage is perhaps most common.
Caloric Value
All foods provide energy to the body, represented by their caloric value. Smoked pork sausage contains 307 calories per 100-gram serving, according to the USDA's National Nutrient Database. Most adults need at least 2,000 calories a day to support their energy needs, and a 100-gram serving of smoked pork sausage provides about 15 percent of this amount.
Fat
Smoked pork sausage is high in fat, with about 28 grams per 100-gram serving. A 2,000-calorie diet requires about 44 to 78 grams of fat each day, so a serving of pork sausage provides about 64 percent the typical adult's minimum fat needs. Each serving contains 9.3 grams of saturated fat and 61 milligrams of cholesterol. Saturated fat and cholesterol can increase serum cholesterol levels and your risk for heart disease. A 2,000-calorie diet should consist of no more than 16 grams of saturated fat and 300 milligrams of cholesterol, according to the American Heart Association.
Protein
Each 100-gram serving of smoked pork sausage contains about 12 grams protein. Protein helps build and repair the body's tissues, and this nutrient should account for about 10 to 35 percent of your daily caloric intake. A 2,000-calorie diet should include 50 to 175 grams of protein, and a serving of smoked pork sausage provides about 24 percent of a typical adult's minimum daily protein needs.
Sodium
Each 100-gram serving of smoked pork sausage contains 827 milligrams sodium. While the body needs sodium in small doses for the role it plays in hydration and central nervous system function, high concentrations of sodium in the blood can raise blood pressure and increase the risk of stroke and heart attack. Adults should limit sodium intake to 1,500 milligrams a day, according to the American Heart Association, and a serving of pork sausage contains more than 55 percent of this amount.
Vitamins and Minerals
Pork sausage is particularly high in B vitamins, phosphorus and selenium. B vitamins convert nutrients into energy that cells can use to support metabolic functions. Phosphorus plays a central role in the structure and formation of bones and teeth. Selenium has antioxidant properties, preventing the oxidative damage free radicals cause in cells. A 100-gram serving of pork sausage contains about 10 to 20 percent the daily value for most adults for the various B vitamins, as well as about 22 and 33 percent for the minerals phosphorus and selenium, respectively.
References
- University of Wisconsin Health Services: Sodium
- USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference: Smoked Link Sausage, Pork
- Institute of Medicine: Dietary Reference Intakes: Macronutrients
- American Heart Association; Know Your Fats; June 2011
- American Heart Association; Sodium (Salt or Sodium Chloride); August 2011
- Institute of Medicine: Dietary Reference Intakes: Vitamins and Elements
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Vitamins and Minerals
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