SPAM Linked to Diabetes

University of Washington researchers conducted a study of Native Americans and their consumption of the processed meat called SPAM. Of the total number of study subjects, the group that consumed the most SPAM had a 63 percent greater type 2 diabetes risk than the group consuming the least amount. One serving of SPAM (Spiced Ham) has fifteen grams of fat, and six of those are saturated fat. Also there are 767 milligrams of sodium, according to nutritiondata.com. The ingredients are pork and ham, mechanically separated chicken, water, salt, modified potato starch, sugar, sodium phosphates, potassium chloride, sodium ascorbate, sodium nitrite. A fairly recent Harvard study of processed meat consumption, also found an increased risk of diabetes.

SPAM has been made and sold for over 70 years. By 1970, two billion cans had been sold. Over 100 million cans are sold each year. Oddly, Hormel touts the fact that Hawaii is a great consumer of SPAM, but obesity in Hawaii is harming the health of many people there. According to the Office of Minority Health, in the period from 2005-2007 over 63 percent of Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders were overweight or obese. For males in that population, the rate was 72 percent.

So why are some indigenous peoples eating SPAM? Low cost – one 12-ounce can of the processed meat can be purchased for about $3.50, sometimes even in the two dollar range, depending on the store and if there is a discount.

Also potentially problematic are the cooking instructions, which say to fry the processed meat, but that is likely to add more fat due to the use of cooking oil or lard. If people refuse to stop eating it, steaming is a way of cooking that does not add additional fat.

Image Credit: Matthew W. Jackson/ Wiki Commons

Read more: Diabetes, Diet & Nutrition, Eating for Health, Food, Health, SPAM

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

J.L. A.

8:40AM PDT on Apr 10, 2012

good to know...is this still a staple for our soldiers on active duty overseas?

send a green star

Onoosh G.

3:54PM PDT on Mar 15, 2012

Ewwwwwwww... Just one more reason I'm vegetarian! And it's a shame our "First Nations" (as they call natives in Canada) are so poor they have to eat Spam. Bad nutrition meets political injustice: nice mix. :-(

Teresa C.

9:19AM PST on Feb 25, 2012

Gross!!

paula e.

2:29AM PST on Feb 25, 2012

Meat of any kind is linked to a host of diseases.

Eternal G.

6:42PM PST on Feb 24, 2012

I knew it!

Diane L.

8:21PM PST on Feb 16, 2012

Aaaah, BUT Debra, the point should be that buying SPAM is not exclusive to just "poor" people, and certainly not to Native Americans. I'm neither, and while I DO know that SPAM is not a healthy choice, I flat out like it once in awhile, so while I could buy expensive food, and DO indulge in a few gourmet cuts of meat once a week or so, and DO go out for lobster if I want to (don't very often, but COULD), I sometimes eat SPAM for a meal along with eggs. I just happen to like it "sometimes", like I sometimes want a beer, or SOMETIMES want a piece of cake. The trick is to not live on it. An occasional piece of cake isn't going to hurt anyone, but a slice at every meal surely would.

Debra G.

6:11AM PST on Feb 16, 2012

If people have access to better higher quality foods, and if those values for good nutrition were taught in schools to poorer kids, and if school lunches weren't subsidized by the Ag bills we would have a better chance to make everyone healthy, not just the higher incomes, but everyone. Education is key, examples are key, access is key.

That Spam is linked to diabetes is a no brainer. Torture your body, deny it nutrients, and you will have issues. If not diabetes, then gout, then gall bladder issues, then hypertension. A plant based diet is beneficial to everyone, but a primarily plant based diet where people who can't transition completely, will increase their health, lower blood pressure, perhaps even get them off of diabetes medication. It all depends on what you want from life, and how much you are willing to do to make it work. Effort.

Michelle K.

9:31AM PST on Feb 15, 2012

Thanks. I am not a big fan of Spam. In fact I think it's quite nasty.

Deborah G.

10:58AM PST on Feb 14, 2012

What does surprise me is that anyone needs to be wasting money on a study to "prove" something that is clearly obvious. A highly processed meat product like SPAM as a regular part of one's diet- probably along with other highly processed foods WILL adversely affect one's health. I don't think it has to do with the ethnicity (Native American, Hawaiian, Samoan, etc.) The correlation would have more to do with economics- availability (or lack) of more nutritious options...

And for whoever posted that they should have looked up SPAM on the internet...yeah, but I could suggest a L-O-O-O-W tech solution...pick up the can and read it! The ingredients aren't hidden...

7:35PM PST on Feb 10, 2012

As far as this study coming up with "Native Americans have a high poverty rate"........true, for those who still live on reservations and do not have tribal casinos or other businesses which pay little or no taxes and participate in profits. Where I live, that is the norm.........casinos and non-taxable businesses, which sell gasoline, cigarettes and alcohol a bit cheaper than other places, but the profit margin to the tribes is HUGE because they don't pay Federal taxes on the product. The profit is distributed amongst ALL tribal members. As for refrigerators, not only do they own them, but own dozens.........drive thru any reservation arund here and you'll see twoor three, discarded in the front yard. I don't resent the Native Americans having these businesses, if anyone misunderstands..........I patronize them. Why would I spend 25-cents a gallon MORE to buy gas across the street just 'cuz it wasn't a tribal owned station? I like going to the casinos, just wish I didn't always lose, LOL!