Why You Should Think Twice About Buying Salami

Maybe you're shopping for sandwich toppings for your lunches this week. Or perhaps you're trying to build the perfect charcuterie board for your next party. Regardless, chances are high that salami is on your grocery list. (Even Food Network's Padma Lakshmi is a fan of the deli meat, with her favorite sandwich being salami and cheese on sourdough, according to InStyle.) The salty sliced meat is versatile, delicious, and, depending on the type, can be very affordable.

However, unfortunately with all of that being said, salami also made our list of the things you should never buy at the grocery store. CheatSheet agrees, dubbing processed meats in general as one of the worst foods you can consume when it comes to your health and weight. But what makes it such a terrible purchase? Here's what you need to know before the next time you go to buy salami — and why you might want to consider something else instead if you care about your health.

For as delicious as salami is, it isn't exactly nutritious. Sure it can pack six grams of protein per one-ounce serving, but that's about as far as it gets in terms of health benefits. Salami is incredibly high in fat, with just three slices containing 18 percent of the recommended daily saturated fat intake. It also tends to be considerably high in both calories and sodium. A standard serving (which is much less than what you'd consume on sandwich) typically sets you back 111 to 123 calories and about 516 to 678 milligrams of sodium. Given that the American Heart Association recommends no more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day, your tiny serving of salami puts quite the dent in that number.

Consumer Reports also found some alarming things in processed meats like salami, including potentially harmful coloring agents. Even more concerning, they report that consuming a lot of deli meat has been linked to long-term health conditions like heart disease and diabetes. For the occasional treat, salami is a no-brainer, but for those conscious of their health, it's best to stay away for the most part.