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    Is Charcoal Grilling Unhealthy?

    Posts: 2
    edited February 17 in Food and Nutrition
    I am 20 years old and have been inactive for years. Just recently I have started putting an emphasis on diet and how it effects someone's stamina and agility. I am thinking of getting a Charcoal BBQ in the summer and I am hearing so many different things about how Charcoal grilling is really bad for your health and how meat and fish cooked on one cause cancerous properties to arise during the cooking process.

    Does this have a strong element of truth in it? Is it anywhere near as bad as something like, deep frying? How often is too much (I am planning three or four times a week) - Will charcoal grilling on a BBQ significantly adversely affect my stamina and exercise or isn't it that much of a big deal?

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    Replies

    • Posts: 9,487 Member
      Well you can always find someone that says whatever it is you want to do will give you cancer. Grilled is far healthier than deep fried. Plus it is pretty freaking delicious. Enjoy your grill.
    • Posts: 47 Member
      I have a friend who's mother died of cancer that they swear was from the carcinogens from grilling all of her food...I guess she grilled all the time...but she also liked her food almost incinerated on the grill as well.

      I don't eat burned meat from the grill...ok ok the occasional burnt marshmallow, but I do enjoy grilled food, but we probably only grill once a week during the spring or summer months.

      You can always use a George Forman grill...healthy, but no charcoal/smoke flavor...you could add liquid smoke in your marinade.
    • Posts: 1,998 Member
      I really only stopped in to say that if you do use charcoal, don't use the charcoal starter! You can start briquettes by using a "Charcoal Chimney". The starter is a petroleum product and certainly soaks into your food.
    • Posts: 4,489 Member
      Will charcoal grilling on a BBQ significantly adversely affect my stamina and exercise or isn't it that much of a big deal?

      Dude, no.
    • Posts: 49,167 Member
      I really only stopped in to say that if you do use charcoal, don't use the charcoal starter! You can start briquettes by using a "Charcoal Chimney". The starter is a petroleum product and certainly soaks into your food.
      What? A charcoal starter is just to "start" the embers burning. By the time it's hot enough to start cooking, the product is gone. Come on now.

      A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
      IDEA Fitness member
      Kickboxing Certified Instructor
      Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
    • Posts: 41,865 Member
      Not something I would concern myself with at all. I highly recommend a chimney for getting your coals started rather than drenching them in lighter fluid or buying them pre-soaked...much better flavor and I'm not too keen on cooking my meat over petroleum fumes. I'm also a big fan of lump charcoal vs. brickettes.

      If you're really worried about it, make sure you have some cruciferous vegetables with your burger...you probably should anyways.
    • Posts: 1,768 Member
      I've honestly never heard using a charcoal grill causing cancer.... but if we did listen to everything that would cause cancer in this day and age we'd never do or eat much of anything except super fresh produce.

      Seriously, grill away!
    • Posts: 56,142 Member
      People have been cooking food on fire for millenia. I think you'll be fine.
    • Posts: 5,789 Member
      show previous quotes
      What? A charcoal starter is just to "start" the embers burning. By the time it's hot enough to start cooking, the product is gone. Come on now.

      A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
      IDEA Fitness member
      Kickboxing Certified Instructor
      Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

      As much as agree with you and never Rocbola.....charcoal chimney is 100% the way to go. I haven't used lighter fluid since I got mine, and the flavor is that much better.
    • Posts: 840 Member
      IMO if you do not let the charcoal lighter fluid burn off all the way you can def get the fumes and all cooked into your meat. Some people are impatient with charcoal and throw food on before coals are ready.

      I use a chimney and IMO i can takes the difference from the fluid.
    • Posts: 283
      Actually where the issue comes from is any food processed with Nitrates (hot dogs, ham, bacon, etc...), once allowed to get past a certain temperature/allowed to char (which frequently occurs on a BBQ) the by-product is a carcinogen.

      So are LOTS of things.

      I do not eat hot dogs, and 'try' to limit my intake of food to items that I can recognize in their original state. I use my grill frequently outside during warmer months.

      Its all about moderation.
    • Posts: 423 Member
      If charcoal grilling is wrong, I don't want to be right.
    • Posts: 460 Member
      If charcoal grilling is wrong, I don't want to be right.

      ^^^ Yeah - that -

      Everything can be bad for you if you look hard enough to find the studies. I say grill it and enjoy it - don't burn it! It's still better than drenching in oil or something.
    • Posts: 73
      IMO if you do not let the charcoal lighter fluid burn off all the way you can def get the fumes and all cooked into your meat. Some people are impatient with charcoal and throw food on before coals are ready.

      I use a chimney and IMO i can takes the difference from the fluid.

      exactly. if you do it right and are patient waiting for the coals to heat up you'll be fine. if you're impatient and don't wait your food will more than likely taste like lighter fluid.
    • Posts: 176 Member
      I think the only way grilling out can be bad for you is if you use those super unhealthy marinades...you know, the ones that make your food taste delicious.:wink:
    • Posts: 15 Member
      Ready2Rock206 is right...........you will ALWAYS find someone who says that anything you do it unhealthy. Search far enough and someone will tell you that breathing air, drinking water or blinking your eyes too many times a day will kill you or is unhealthy.

      Grilling is F-A-R healthier than frying...............I have NEVER heard of someone dying from "grilling their food". And as far as the "carsogins" just keep your grill clean. Obviously anything not kept sanitary or clean is a bad idea. Just make sure everything is cooked to the correct temperature and you'll be fine. :)
    • Posts: 3,502 Member
      If you use a charcoal grill you can make stuff like this (note heavily used chimney starter):

      BPH1ucl.jpg?1
    • Posts: 49,167 Member
      show previous quotes

      As much as agree with you and never Rocbola.....charcoal chimney is 100% the way to go. I haven't used lighter fluid since I got mine, and the flavor is that much better.
      It probably is much better. I was just disputing the point of petroleum being "soaked" into the food.

      A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
      IDEA Fitness member
      Kickboxing Certified Instructor
      Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
    • Posts: 440 Member
      Apparently everything can cause cancer these days..

      1 in 5 people get cancer so at least you'll know what sort to look out for. Personally I enjoy a sunbed so I'm keeping my eye open for skin cancer..
    • Posts: 9,097 Member
      show previous quotes

      As much as agree with you and never Rocbola.....charcoal chimney is 100% the way to go. I haven't used lighter fluid since I got mine, and the flavor is that much better.
      For the chimney also...the briquettes are ready faster I do believe too.
    • Posts: 1,998 Member
      show previous quotes
      What? A charcoal starter is just to "start" the embers burning. By the time it's hot enough to start cooking, the product is gone. Come on now.

      A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
      IDEA Fitness member
      Kickboxing Certified Instructor
      Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
      You come on now, you know i'm right, you just like disagreeing with me. I may not eat meat anymore, but in my day, i knew my stuff about grilling. Charcoal is fine, but the starter makes your meat taste like starter, and it makes the whole neighborhood smell. The best way, though, is wood. My little brother, who still eats meat by the truckload, uses his smoker. Indirect slow cooked with wood smoke. It smells a lot better, and it gets great reviews from those who eat it.
    • Posts: 5,789 Member
      show previous quotes
      You come on now, you know i'm right, you just like disagreeing with me. I may not eat meat anymore, but in my day, i knew my stuff about grilling. Charcoal is fine, but the starter makes your meat taste like starter, and it makes the whole neighborhood smell. The best way, though, is wood. My little brother, who still eats meat by the truckload, uses his smoker. Indirect slow cooked with wood smoke. It smells a lot better, and it gets great reviews from those who eat it.

      Lighter fluid only makes your food taste like it if you don't burn it off, or put on copious amounts.....especially if it's making your whole neighborhood smell. The chimney preps the briquettes faster and more evenly.
    • Posts: 82 Member
      The laptop sitting on your lap right now may cause you testicular cancer. Enjoy your BBQ'ing.
    • Posts: 49,167 Member
      show previous quotes
      You come on now, you know i'm right, you just like disagreeing with me. I may not eat meat anymore, but in my day, i knew my stuff about grilling. Charcoal is fine, but the starter makes your meat taste like starter, and it makes the whole neighborhood smell. The best way, though, is wood. My little brother, who still eats meat by the truckload, uses his smoker. Indirect slow cooked with wood smoke. It smells a lot better, and it gets great reviews from those who eat it.
      I disagree when information isn't correct. Maybe if someone soaked a whole bottle of starter in charcoal, it would inundate the food, but a few squirts just to start the coals to fire them up...............nah. The fuel evaporates and burns up well before meat even hits the grill.

      A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
      IDEA Fitness member
      Kickboxing Certified Instructor
      Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
    • Posts: 992 Member
      show previous quotes

      As much as agree with you and never Rocbola.....charcoal chimney is 100% the way to go. I haven't used lighter fluid since I got mine, and the flavor is that much better.

      ^ THIS
    • Posts: 1,537 Member
      creosote.... a properly vented grill shouldn't really build up creosote... it tastes like *kitten*
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