Calories in Prosciutto

If you are an ardent Italian food lover, then I don't need to introduce you to this most popular part of Italian cuisine. A prosciutto is nothing but an Italian term for ham. In English, the term is used for dry cured ham which is served raw and in extremely thin slices.

In Italian, such raw ham is called prosciutto crudo, while its cooked counterpart is known as prosciutto cotto. Ham used for making prosciutto usually comes from either pigs or wild horses. It requires about nine months to two years to make it.

This timespan depends on the size of ham which is used for the making. Calories are often a cause of concern for weight watchers, who fear that the calories might not go along with their diet. Well, if you want to know more on its calories, and other such details, here is some information for you.

Here is the data that briefly explains the nutritional value of prosciutto. It shows that along with the values mentioned below, 2 slices (30g) contain 64.3% calories from fat and 45.7% calories from protein. It is important to understand that prosciutto calories vary as per the calories of the food items that are served with it.

• Nutrition : Calories
• Amount : 70
• Daily Value (%) : 0%

• Nutrition : Calories from fat
• Amount : 45
• Daily Value (%) : 0%

• Nutrition : Total fat
• Amount : 5 g
• Daily Value (%) : 8%

• Nutrition : Saturated fat
• Amount : 2 g
• Daily Value (%) : 10%

• Nutrition : Cholesterol
• Amount : 20 mg
• Daily Value (%) : 7%

• Nutrition : Sodium
• Amount : 730 mg
• Daily Value (%) : 30%

• Nutrition : Total carbs
• Amount : 0 g
• Daily Value (%) : 0%

• Nutrition : Dietary fibers
• Amount : 0 g
• Daily Value (%) : 0%

• Nutrition : Protein
• Amount : 8 g
• Daily Value (%) : 16%

• Nutrition : Iron
• Amount : 0 g
• Daily Value (%) : 2%

• Prosciutto Di Parma: Serving size - 2 slices, Calories - 62, Sodium - 560 mg, protein - 7.5
• Prosciutto di San Daniele: Serving size - 2 slices, Calories - 74, Sodium - 560 mg, protein - 7.5
• Prosciutto Toscano: Serving size - 1 oz, Calories - 80, Sodium - 460 mg, protein - 7g

• Prosciutto Panino (Prosciutto Rolled In Mozzarella Cheese): Serving size - 1 oz, Calories - 70, Sodium - 460 mg, protein - 7g
• Smoked Prosciutto: Serving size - 2 slices, Calories - 90, Sodium - 470 mg, protein - 7g

• Cherry Peppers Stuffed With Prosciutto and Provolone Cheese: Serving size - 1 pepper, Calories - 70, Sodium - 240 mg, protein - 2g
• Prosciutto Crudo & Cheese Cappelletti: Serving size - ½ pack, Calories - 411, Sodium - 950 mg, protein - 19.8g

• Prosciutto Mozzarella Sandwich: Serving size - 1 sandwich, Calories - 770, Sodium - 2270 mg, protein - 39g
• Chicken and Prosciutto Tortelloni: Serving size - 1 cup cooked, Calories - 330, Sodium - 610 mg, protein - 15g

• Italian Prosciutto Artisan Baguette: Serving size - 1 baguette, Calories - 636, Sodium - 1 mg, protein - 27g

Most often, prosciutto is served as an 'antipasto', an Italian dish which is served before serving pasta. It is the first course of the traditional formal Italian meal. Typically it is wrapped around bread sticks and served along with cantaloupe and honeydew.

Prosciutto is also savored as an accompaniment to various cooked spring vegetables, especially peas and asparagus. It is also served with pasta sauce, veal stuffing, various Tuscan dishes and as pizza topping.

Prosciutto is dominantly used in sandwiches, along with basil, tomatoes and mozzarella cheese, while a refined version which is cured with wine, is served as a starter, along with sweet melons and figs. There are various forms of this famous Italian cuisine that are served worldwide, under the status of PDO (Protected Designation of Origin).

When discussing the nutritional facts, we simply cannot overlook the higher amount of salt which is present in it. It means, rather than the calories, you need to be worried about its sodium levels and their ill effects on the body.

Thus, people who are already suffering from obesity, high blood pressure levels, heart diseases and thyroid diseases, need to limit their intake of prosciutto. The calories, on the other hand, are relatively less and depend greatly upon the type that you consume.

I would like to mention here that while prosciutto calories are less, they are greater than many other healthy food recipes. Limited consumption and healthy accompaniment like green vegetables, can reduce the negative effects, if any.

Well, as the story suggests, accompaniment plays a huge role in deciding the nutritional facts of prosciutto. Calories can be reduced or controlled by increasing the usage of fresh vegetables, whole wheat breads and less fatty salad dressings.