Foods that are high in fat or sugars can increase triglyceride levels, a risk factor for heart disease and stroke. The body converts unused calories from the foods you eat into triglycerides, which are fatty substances called lipids that are stored in fat cells. Sausage, a product made from seasoned ground meat stuffed into casings, is available fresh, fully cooked or dried and may be made from pork, turkey, chicken, beef or other meats. Consumers interested in triglyceride levels often look to nutrition labels to determine the amount of triglyceride-raising nutrients in a serving of sausage.
Nutrition Labels
Fat content is a common concern with sausage products, especially pork sausage. The nutrition labels on food products display the total fat and a breakdown of amounts for the different types of dietary fats: saturated, trans, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated. Saturated and trans fats raise cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the body and should be avoided or limited, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Sausage also might contain small amounts of sugars. Simple sugars, such as glucose and corn syrup, are more likely to increase triglycerides.
Fresh Sausage
The U.S. Department of Agriculture regulates the labeling and fat content for fresh sausage. Fresh pork sausage may not contain more than 50 percent fat by weight. Fresh beef sausage is limited to 30 percent fat by weight. The USDA limits the fat in fresh breakfast and whole hog sausages to 50 percent by weight. The fat content in cured or uncured Italian sausages cannot exceed 35 percent by weight. According to the USDA, a 48-gram serving of fresh cooked pork sausage contains 13.61 grams of total fat, which includes 4.393 grams of saturated fat. Choosing a fresh sausage product with a lower fat content can help you control triglycerides.
Lean Meats
Sausages made from leaner types of meat have lower fat content, especially saturated and trans fats. Sausage products marketed as lean may contain even lower fat amounts. One manufacturer advertises that its chicken sausage serving contains 50 percent less fat and trans fat. You can control your triglyceride levels more effectively by comparing the fat content listed on nutrition labels. A 57-gram serving of fresh cooked turkey sausage contains 5.95 grams of total fat, which includes 1.292 grams of saturated fat. Jennie-O’s 56-gram serving of its lean turkey breakfast sausage links contains 5.0 grams of total fat, which includes 1.6 grams of saturated fat and no trans fat.
Fully Cooked
Fully-cooked sausages, which often are processed meats, are ready-to-eat and often smoked or dried. Processed meats usually have higher fat content than fresh meats, according to the Harvard School of Public Health. The serving size and ingredients are important for determining the effect on triglycerides. One 67-gram link of fully-cooked Italian sausage contains 18.30 grams of total fat, of which 6.469 grams are saturated fat. The Italian sausage serving also contains carbohydrates and sugar.
Triglyceride Levels
All dietary fats are triglycerides. People who habitually eat more calories than they need often have high triglyceride levels. The blood test performed to measure cholesterol in the blood also measures triglycerides. The normal adult triglyceride level is less than 150 milligrams per deciliter of blood, or 150 mg/dl, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Dietary recommendations to lower triglycerides include avoiding trans fats, limiting total fat to 30 to 35 percent of total daily calories and limiting saturated fat to 7 percent of total daily calories. Choose a lean, fresh sausage product to help with efforts to lower triglycerides.
References
- Cleveland Clinic: How Foods Affect Triglycerides
- University of Georgia: Curing and Smoking – Sausage Types
- U.S. Department of Agriculture: Sausages and Food Safety
- U.S. Department of Agriculture: Nutrient Data for 07064, Pork Sausage, Fresh, Cooked
- Johnsonville: Better-for-You-Sausage
- U.S. Department of Agriculture: Nutrient Data for 07958, Turkey Sausage, Fresh, Cooked
- JennieO: Lean Turkey Breakfast Sausage Links
- Harvard School of Public Health: Food Pyramid
- U.S. Department of Agriculture: Nutrient Data for 07089, Sausage, Italian, Pork, Cooked
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