Sausages and Bacon
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I cut down on it due to high cholesterol. Turkey sausage is good but in my personal opinion, turkey bacon is like eating cardboard. Lol.1
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Need2Exerc1se wrote: »Is it OK "health wise" to eat one or two bacon strips or 2 sausages a day? I eat one or the other with 2 hard boiled eggs everyday. It really helps with me with the protein amount. I can't have dairy, and soy or whey protein powders and i don't feel like eating chicken for breakfast.
http://www.aicr.org/enews/2014/08-august/faq-processed-meat-and.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIm4_FvZyb1wIVDluGCh2RvgEUEAAYASAAEgL7qfD_BwE
Research suggests that regularly eating even small amounts of cold cuts, bacon, sausage and hot dogs increase colorectal cancer risk, which is why AICR recommends avoiding these foods, except for special occasions.
https://www.cancer.org/latest-news/world-health-organization-says-processed-meat-causes-cancer.html
Twenty-two experts from 10 countries reviewed more than 800 studies to reach their conclusions. They found that eating 50 grams of processed meat every day increased the risk of colorectal cancer by 18%. That’s the equivalent of about 4 strips of bacon or 1 hot dog. For red meat, there was evidence of increased risk of colorectal, pancreatic, and prostate cancer.
Overall, the lifetime risk of someone developing colon cancer is 5%. To put the numbers into perspective, the increased risk from eating the amount of processed meat in the study would raise average lifetime risk to almost 6%.
Thank you for this part, since the news reports always latch onto the larger number (the perceived number) and almost never report the actual increase in risk... it is always more alarming and gets way more attention to report the perceived number vs the actual risk increase.
I agree. It should also be noted that regular physical activity will lower your risk.
https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/obesity/physical-activity-fact-sheet
There is substantial evidence that higher levels of physical activity are linked to lower risks of several cancers (2).
Colon cancer: ...
Breast cancer: ...
Endometrial cancer: ...
For a number of other cancers, there is more limited evidence of a relationship with physical activity. In a study of over 1 million individuals, leisure-time physical activity was linked to reduced risks of esophageal adenocarcinoma, liver cancer, gastric cardia cancer (a type of stomach cancer), kidney cancer, myeloid leukemia, myeloma, and cancers of the head and neck, rectum, and bladder (5). These results are generally corroborated by large cohort studies (19) or meta-analyses (20-22).
https://www.cancer.org/latest-news/exercise-linked-with-lower-risk-of-13-types-of-cancer.html
That’s big news, because previous studies have investigated the link between physical activity and cancer risk, and results were inconclusive for most cancer types. The exceptions were colon, breast, and endometrial cancers. This new study, published May 16 in JAMA Internal Medicine, found that leisure-time physical activity was associated with a significantly decreased risk of not only these 3 cancers, but also esophageal cancer, liver cancer, stomach cancer, kidney cancer, and myeloid leukemia. In addition, physical activity was strongly associated with a decreased risk of multiple myeloma, a blood cancer, as well as cancers of the head and neck, rectum, bladder, and lung (in current and former smokers).6 -
I have bacon & eggs most mornings - real bacon - from a pig - with fat - Eastcoast Jim5
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If you're worried about sodium nitrites and nitrates in bacon and sausages, buy fresh pork butt and grind and stuff your own sausages and buy fresh pork belly to make your own bacon.
You can leave out the pink curing salt (which includes sodium nitrate and nitrate and is used as much to preserve the color of the meat as it is to prolong its shelf life) and include whatever spices/flavorings that you like. It is actually quite easy to do.
BTW, the recipe that I use to cure 3# of pork belly to make bacon only calls for 1/2 teaspoon (along w/4.5 teaspoons of Kosher salt and other ingredients) in 3/4 cup of water to marinate and cure the meat before smoking.
1/2 teaspoon of curing salt isn't all that much and not all of that would be absorbed by the meat. So, I really don't think its anything to worry about.
But, if it still bothers you, just leave it out and just add 5 teaspoons of Kosher salt instead. The bacon will have a weird and unappetizing grey color but it will otherwise taste the same.2 -
There are companies that make nitrate free bacon, I don't know about sausage.
The overall increase in cancer risk isn't high - as was quoted above, it goes up from 5 to 6 percent - but if that troubles you, you can seek alternatives. Speaking for myself, I love bacon and hate sausage, and eat a couple of pieces of bacon about twice a week. I also eat lunch meat and beef jerky, which contain nitrates. But I would probably avoid eating bacon for breakfast every day, lunch meat sandwiches every day, and beef jerky snacks every afternoon.
Are you unable to tolerate all dairy? Some people who are lactose intolerant can tolerate yogurt since it has low amounts of lactose. There are also sheep and goat dairy products.2 -
If you are that concerned, mix it up with other meats. You don't have to just eat chicken!
What about ground turkey? Season it with some pepper and maple syrup and it would taste similar to a frozen sausage. Meatballs are another good idea. They have chicken and turkey meatballs if you don't want to eat beef ones. I'll second that beans are a great option. You can do a scramble with eggs, beans and salsa with avocado. Yummy. Packets of tuna or salmon are easy and convenient. Or, go the vegetarian route and try utilizing tofu, seitan and tempeh.
And, try cottage cheese. I can't do milk or yogurt but cottage cheese is okay for me.2 -
Applegate Farms Naturals sausage and bacon products here in the USA are nitrate free, they have a product finder on their site. Target carries Applegate products in this area. I'd call myself an occasional bacon and sausage eater.3
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Eating bacon everyday is probably not a good idea.
Once a week is ok.5 -
Nitrates and nitrites in processed meats aren't necessarily a problem. The link to cancer could come from something else. In the case of bacon, cooking process may make a difference.
https://www.livescience.com/36057-truth-nitrites-lunch-meat-preservatives.html
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Have you considered making your own?
It's relatively simple, and you control what goes into it.
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I love bacon but only eat occasionally because it does add up. I do eat turkey sausage more often because they are lower calories and fit in with my regular breakfast. I think the turkey sausage is good, but can't even look at the turkey bacon.0
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You can buy nitrite free bacon0
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It's really not at all difficult, but both bacon and sausage require some special equipment.
Bacon - a smoker
Sausage - a meat grinder and sausage stuffer (if desired).
If you have a Kitchenaid mixer, there is a meat grinder attachment, and a sausage stuffer attachment.
To make breakfast sausage, I will cut up a 5 lb. pork shoulder into small cubes, and season it with fresh chopped ginger, minced fresh garlic, chopped fresh sage, salt, loads of ground black pepper, and a good pinch of red pepper flakes. Mix that mess together, cover with saran, and let sit in the fridge over night.
The next day, grind with a small plate on the grinder. Mix with a mixer, slowly adding VERY cold water so it holds together. Form into patties.
Find all other breakfast sausages to be lacking forevermore.0 -
You could also buy uncured versions of the bacon and sausage which would not have the nitrates/nitrites in them.
This. If you buy your meat from a real butcher instead of the grocery store, all that stuff you are worried about is absent. You'll still have the "red meat is bad" and other beliefs to contend with, which is up to you to believe or dismiss.
I believe in the mantra of all things in moderation. Lack of moderation has gotten me to where I am today, but that does not disprove the saying, but rather reinforces it. Use your intelligence and reason to make the best decision for you.0 -
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