BLOG 564 BACON

BLOG 564 BACON

Bacon is the type of food many of us have a love-hate relationship, knowing the good and bad of eating it. Bacon most popularly comes from pork, but it can be from turkey as well. It is a highly processed meat that undergoes a curing process to achieve the final crunchy, salty, taste that is so well liked.

The curing process involves soaking the meat in nitrates, salt, and sugar. Often, the meat is soaked after it is cured. Because of this process, bacon has a long shelf life and keeps its red color.

The trouble with bacon is that it tastes so good, but from a nutritional and health standpoint, there are some downsides to consider. Bacon is very, very high in salt. Eating an excess amount of salt increases the chances for stomach cancers and high blood pressure. Because bacon is so highly processed, it contains a high number of nitrates and nitrites. When these additives are cooked at high temperatures, they form nitrosamines, which are carcinogens. Eating processed meat has been associated with breast, lung, color and liver cancers.  Some manufacturers do try to lower the number of carcinogens that form by adding erythorbic acid and vitamin C. Bacon is also very high in fat.  The fat in bacon is 50% monounsaturated, 40% saturated, and 10% polyunsaturated. This fat has a lot of cholesterol in it too. Research is debatable in terms of the relationship between high saturated fat and cholesterol causing an increased risk for heart disease. High fat does affect weight management.

Bacon isn’t all bad. In fact, a 3.5 ounce serving of bacon has 37 grams of protein. It contains B1, B2, B3, B5, B6 and B12. Bacon has 53% of the RDA for phosphorus and 89% of the RDA for selenium. It also has iron, magnesium, potassium, and zinc. Different approaches to dieting encourage high fat diets and bacon is a popular option to eat. Keto and carnivore type eating include bacon on their lists of acceptable foods to eat for weight management.

Bacon is a food that is hard to resist, easy to make, add flavor to recipes, and satisfies a wide audience. Being aware of the overall sodium and fat intake we consume each day is important, especially when incorporating foods such as bacon into meals. Turkey bacon would be the healthy alternative. Be aware of all processed meats, read labels, and always thoroughly cook raw meats. Eating bacon in moderation and sticking to portion sizes is the general recommendation for this popular love-hate type of food.