Hi ya! How’re you doing? Had
your breakfast already? (Yeah, I realize my readers in Asia have already had
lunch and dinner, too). Didn’t have any bacon today did you? I’ll tell you why
as soon as you fill your coffee mug and load a couple virtual treats onto your
plate. Okay, well, as much as most of us love bacon, we do realize it has
health risks...despite what the Paleo Diet people may claim.
Seriously, bacon never was and
never will be a health food. While diets like the Paleo Diet may have some
redeeming qualities, these diets are often just an excuse to eat more meat …
and especially more bacon. Here are 9 reasons to ditch bacon for good:
1. A 42% Increased Risk of
Heart Attack and Stroke
Regular bacon consumption has
been linked to a significant increased risk of heart disease and stroke. Three
strips of bacon contain approximately 435 mg of sodium. If you’re not sure,
that’s a lot. Regular bacon or other processed meat consumption has been found
to increase the risk of heart attack by 42%.
2. A 44% Increased Risk of
Dying Young
According to a study published
in the medical journal BMC Medicine, researchers found that eating
processed meat such as bacon significantly increased the risk of dying
prematurely from any cause, but especially from heart disease or cancer. One in
seventeen people followed by researchers died; however, those who ate more than
160 grams of processed meat (about two sausages and a slice of bacon) were 44%
more likely to die than those who ate about 20 grams daily.
3. A 19% Increased Risk of
Diabetes
While food manufacturers and
celebrity chefs alike seem to be adding bacon to just about everything,
including cookies, ice cream, chocolates, and almost any main course, bacon
consumption is no laughing matter. The journal Science Daily published
research illustrating that daily consumption of bacon and other processed meats
can increase the risk of diabetes by 19 percent.
4. Increased Risk of Lung
Disease or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
A study from the University
of Columbia found that consuming bacon 14 times a month – less than once
every two days – significantly increased the risk of lung disease and reduced
lung function. Eating bacon or other cured meats increased the risk of chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease, including disorders like emphysema and chronic
bronchitis.
5. Can Trigger Inflammatory
Bowel Disease in Just Two Days
In a Harvard University study
published in the journal Nature researchers found that eating a diet
high in meat rapidly alters the microorganisms residing in the gut. They found
that a diet high in animal-based foods caused an overgrowth of microorganisms
that can trigger inflammatory bowel disease within only two days of eating a
high meat diet.
6. A Significantly Increased
Risk of Cancer of the Urinary Tract
In a study published in the
journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers, and Prevention researchers
found a significant increase in urinary tract cancer in men who ate the highest
amounts of bacon and other processed meats.
7. A Risk of Colorectal Cancer
An earlier study published in
the medical journal Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health found a link
between meats like bacon that are treated with preservatives known as nitrates,
and an increased risk of colorectal cancer.
8. An Increased Risk of Lung
Cancer
Consumption of bacon and other
processed meats has also been linked to an increased risk of lung cancer in
both men and women according to research in the journal Epidemiology. No
amount of processed meat is considered safe to eat, according to the American
Institute for Cancer Research.
9. Allergic and Asthmatic
Reactions
The preservatives found in
many brands of bacon can cause an allergic or asthmatic reaction in some
individuals and is best avoided by those suffering from breathing disorders
like asthma or those with many chemical or food allergies or sensitivities.
Yeah...we know. It’s just that
it tastes so darn good, eh! Just to help matters along, Little Ceasar’s Pizza,
here in Cornwall, is currently featuring it’s bacon-wrapped pizza!
Nong and I
may have bacon three or four times a year as a treat. That’s about it.
See ya, eh!
Bob
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