Bacon is basically a cut of meat, which is eaten by many people as a side meal. It is mostly prepared from the back cuts which has less amount of fat than the belly. Eating bacon is healthy or not? This is a big question which runs in the mind of the world of health. Most importantly, various studies focusing on the link between bacon and cancer is raising all kinds of questions about the health effects of bacon and if we should actually shun this food item from our diet.  Processed Meat Linked To Breast Cancer: Other Health Reasons To Avoid Sausages, Hot Dogs and Bacon.

A curing process takes place to prepare bacon, during which the meat is soaked in a solution of salt, nitrates and sometimes sugar. The meats are preserved by smoking and the processing methods decide the taste of bacon and help preserve its red colour.

From a nutrition point of view, Bacon can be considered healthy as it contains 37 grams of high-quality animal protein, Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6 and B12 along with 50% of monounsaturated fats and 10% polyunsaturated fats with a large part of oleic acid. This is the same fatty acid that olive oil is praised for improving the health of the heart. However, one cannot ignore that Bacon also contains 40% saturated fats accompanied by a decent amount of cholesterol and it is processed meat.

Also, eating processed meats like Bacon can also cause problems like:

1. High blood pressure (hypertension)- Processed meat has been associated with high blood pressure because it is rich in sodium chloride(Table salt).

2. Heart disease- The excessive salt, as well as the concoction of other chemicals and preservatives, may increase your risk of having heart disease by 42 per cent.

3.Diabetes- Researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health believe that your chances of having diabetes increases by 19 per cent due to the consumption of processed meat because it has been smoked, cured, or salted.

4. Bowel and stomach cancer- All the chemicals like Nitrite, Heterocyclic Amines (HCAs) etc. have and adverse effects on your bowel and stomach and increases your risk of contracting cancer.

According to a study published in the International Journal of Epidemiology, people who eat processed meat more than four times a week have a higher risk of developing bowel cancer. It also said that processed meat like sausages or bacon, posed a bigger risk than red meat, with the risk of colorectal cancer rising 20% with every 25 grams of processed meat eaten per day.

Inspite of many studies linking Bacon to heart and cancer disease, but it must also be noted that these results were declared from observational studies. If you think bacon is harmful, eat it in moderation as anything on the higher side is unhealthy for our body.

 

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 19, 2019 10:10 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).