GASTRONOMY ARTICLES

 In this section of the website you will find interesting food-articles.

                                                        EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL

Southern Spain is the main producer in the world of EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL. We call it our “Liquid Gold”. Since the Phoenicians and the Romans we the inhabitants of Iberica Peninsula devoted a great interest in the production of this fantastic product what is the base of the healthy Mediterranean diet. All those amazing properties of the EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL are recognized by the World Health Organization :  

Antioxidant Activity

•      Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Bacterial Effect
•      Linked with an Overall Healthy Diet 
•      Prevents Heart Disease
•      Reduces Stroke Risk
•      Fights Cancer
•      Promotes Brain Health
•     Treats Rheumatoid Arthritis
•      Maintains a Healthy Weight 

Nutritional Profile

According to the USDA Nutritional Database, one tablespoon of olive oil contains:

•   119 calories
•     Vitamin K – 8.1 mg (9% RDV)
  
•     Saturated fat – 1.9 g
•     Monounsaturated fat – 9.9 g
•     Polyunsaturated fat – 10.5 g

As you can see, olive oil contains several fats.

Based on the American Heart Organization’s guidelines, no more than 16 g of saturated fat should be consumed a day, if you are following a 2,000 calorie diet. 1.9 g equates to roughly 12% of that maximum intake.

They also recommend that many of the fats you eat should be monounsaturated (MUFA) or polyunsaturated (PUFA), although there is no specific recommended amount.

As you can see, olive oil is high in both MUFAs and PUFAs, and it’s these high levels of ‘good fats’ (particularly the monounsaturated type) that give a simple spoonful of extra virgin olive oil some of its amazing health benefits.

Our Selection of premium extra virgen olive oils are produced by medium small companies most of them family companies that take care about the quality of the oils every harvest. They produce under the traditional proceed and without using any chemical products. Extra Virgin Olive Oil 100% pure and Natural

                             IBERIAN ACORN HAM (PATA NEGRA)

                                                                   The King of the Mediterranean Diet. 

Pata Negra is in some regions of Spain, the used term for the Spanish Iberico-ham which is counted among the best raw hams. The ham is mainly produced in southwest Spain. The name Pata Negra is named after the black legs of the pig. Because we are talking about pork meat you can ask yourself the following questions,

Are you getting fat eating it? How many calories does it contains? What about protein? What about the percentage of fat?

This remarkably interesting article gives you all the answers about this delicious ham.

Today, in Iberian pork meat, we analyse the nutritional values of Iberian acorn ham. Pork has always played a key role in our gastronomy for a main reason: ease of preservation and storage through sausages. It is more. The great Mediterranean tradition of hams and sausages is not from now on but is of Roman and Greek origin. Names such as longaniza or sausage, which come from the Roman sausages lucanica and salsicius, confirm it. But this Mediterranean diet is a concept that goes beyond the use of specific ingredients and recipes. It finds its full meaning when linked to the climate, geography, customs, and way of life of the peoples of the Mediterranean. Iberian ham is rich in vitamins and minerals, which makes it suitable for all types of consumers and a fundamental part of the Mediterranean diet. In this context, the international scientific community recognizes the advantages of generous consumption of olive oil, legumes, vegetables, nuts, cereal pastes, fruits, dairy products and fish, fresh- and cured meat, wine, and cava.

Something that corroborates what past generations had already discovered hundreds of years ago. And within this diet is included the Iberian ham, tasty and succulent, but also with several nutritional properties that make it a unique food in the whole world. There is no other like it. We continually talk about the virtues of Iberian ham, a gourmet product that delights everyone. We comment from its colour to its taste through its texture. But there are other aspects that are not seen with the naked eye and that, therefore, are not so well known to the public. We refer to its nutritional properties, which give it a higher value compared to other types of hams. We emphasize this because research carried out in recent decades suggests that, in terms of nutrition, there are big differences between them. The studies carried out agrees that if there is one thing that gives supreme quality to Iberian acorn ham it is precisely the diet based on acorns and other resources found in the pasture, which manifest themselves not only in their aroma and taste, but also in certain nutritional values that support the positive effect that it has on our body. Nutritional and energetic value of Iberian acorn ham. The key to the nutritional value of Iberian acorn ham is: its special composition in proteins and fats. Its richness in certain minerals and fat-soluble vitamins (especially vitamin E) and B complex. Its high digestibility (between 85 and 100%). Let us look at it in more detail.

Vitamins and minerals

Iberian acorn ham provides vitamins B1, B6, B2 (100 grams provides 24% of the recommended daily intake of this vitamin) and folic acid, greatly beneficial for the nervous system and the proper functioning of the brain. It is also high in vitamin E and selenium, enough to act as an antioxidant and anti-aging. As for minerals, the presence of sodium is highlighted due to the use of salt in the curing process. And, if that were not enough, it is rich in calcium, potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron (the latter two difficult to obtain in a common diet) and, above all, phosphorus, providing 30% of the recommended daily consumption. Proteins: 100% Iberian acorn ham provides 50% more protein than fresh meats, as it has less water.

Protein

It is characterized by having a high protein content of extremely high quality, being an important supply of essential amino acids that provide much of the recommended protein intake in the diet. As a result of the process of curing ham, totally artisanal and natural, it is a pure and aseptic product whose meat does not undergo any manipulation. To give you an idea, with approximately 100 grams of Iberian ham you have half of the recommended contribution per day. On the other hand, the proteolysis that occurs during the maturation of these cured products has a manifest influence on the increase in the digestibility of these proteins.

Lipids

Another point to be analysed in Iberian ham is its high intramuscular fat content in which unsaturated fatty acids predominate, of which more than half are monounsaturated.

It is a food indicated for low-calorie diets, as 50 grams of 100% Iberian acorn ham only provides about 150 kilo calories. Of the latter you can neglect the oleic acid, a percentage that is only surpassed by olive oil. These oleic fats come from the fruit of the acorn which, combined with the exercise of the Iberian pig during the time of the mountaineering, makes it crystallize in this way. In this sense, various scientific studies have shown that fats high in monounsaturated fatty acids produce a beneficial effect on blood cholesterol by leading to an increase in HDL, the so-called 'good cholesterol', and reducing LDL, i.e. 'bad cholesterol'. For this reason, it contributes to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. The caloric value of Iberian ham is slightly higher than that of other types of hams and well below the caloric intake provided by other types of food. According to data published in the Spanish Food Composition Database (BEDCA), when making a comparison on the nutritional values of 100 grams of 100% Iberian acorn ham with those of other cardiovascular foods such as nuts, lentils, salmon, olive oil, chicken or apples, shows that the ham accumulates fewer calories than the same amount of boiled lentils , olive oil or nuts, less cholesterol than grilled chicken or salmon, and also less sodium than lentils or grilled chicken. 

Nutritional Content (per 100 g. Iberian ham) 

• Water: 57.5 g.rams
• Protein: 28.5 grams
• Fat: 14, 5 grams
• Carbohydrates: 0 grams
• Fibre: 0 grams 
• Calorie value: 242 kcal

In short, 100% Iberian acorn ham is a delicatessen with countless virtues, and consumed regularly and sparingly, generates a healthy and balanced contribution to our diet. 

That is why, with the real black paw, taking care of your health is a pleasure!