Fatback is a traditional product of many cuisines around the world, especially valued in Eastern European countries, where it is consumed raw, boiled, smoked, and fried.
Rich in saturated fats and omega-3 fatty acids, fatback helps to increase the level of good cholesterol (HDL) and may be beneficial for the cardiovascular system.
Fatback also contains fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K.
Nutritional Value
Fatback is an excellent choice for a ketogenic diet due to its high fat content and minimal carbohydrates. This makes it nearly an ideal product for maintaining a state of ketosis.
The glycemic index of fatback is zero.
In 100 grams of fatback, there are approximately 800 calories.
Most of the calories in fatback come from fats, which make up about 90 grams.
At the same time, fatback provides about 2.4 grams of protein per 100 grams of the product.
Carbohydrates in fatback are virtually nonexistent, with a content not exceeding 1 gram.
Lipid Profile
Fatback is a fat-rich product, and its lipid profile includes various types of fats. The main components of fats in fatback are:
- Saturated fats: make up about 40-50% of the total fat content. These fats are mainly represented by palmitic and stearic acids.
- Monounsaturated fats: account for approximately 40-50% of the total fat content. The main representative is oleic acid.
- Polyunsaturated fats: make up about 5-10% of the total fat content. Mainly represented by Omega-6 (linoleic acid) and to a lesser extent Omega-3.
- Trans fats: the content of trans fats in fatback is minimal, as fatback does not undergo the hydrogenation process.
Thus, fatback mainly contains saturated and monounsaturated fats, with a small amount of polyunsaturated fats.
