The Nutritional Information Of Smoked Pork Chops

Pork is a rich source of protein, essential in a balanced diet. Higher-protein diets that replace refined carbohydrates with lean protein can help your weight-loss program, when combined with a low-calorie diet. Nutritional values of pork have changed, with a reduction in the fat content by 71 percent, according to a 2006 United States Department of Agriculture, USDA, report. Pork producers are breeding leaner pigs to provide cuts of pork with less fat. Pork chops are one of the leaner cuts of pork.

Calories

The average calories in a 3-oz. serving of smoked pork chop are about 100. Carbohydrates in smoked pork chops are few, with only 2 g or less, which is good if you are counting carbs.

Fat

Pork chops are cut from loin, which has the leaner cuts. Lean pork, such as smoked pork chops, is leaner than a skinless chicken leg. A 3-oz. serving of smoked pork chops has about 2.5 g of fat. Saturated fat comes in about 1 g, which is 5 percent of your daily value based upon a 2,000-calorie diet. A skinless chicken leg quarter is about 7.5 g of fat, with 2 g of saturated fat or 10 percent of your daily value. The American Heart Association, AHA, recommends keeping your total fat intake to less than 25 to 35 percent of your daily calories and saturated fats to less than 7 percent.

Protein

One 3-oz. serving of smoked pork chops has 14 g of protein, which is 28 percent of the daily recommended intake. Protein is important in every cell of your body. It is especially important for athletes and weightlifters for muscle repair and growth. Smoked pork chops are a complete protein containing all the essential amino acids necessary for protein synthesis.

Sodium

Smoked meats are typically cured using salt or salted brine before the smoking process, driving up the sodium content. Smoked pork chops contain high amounts of sodium, with an average of 1,070 mg per 3-oz. serving. This is 44 percent of your daily value in one pork chop. Too much sodium in your diet can increase your blood pressure, putting you at risk for developing heart disease, notes the AHA.