Foody Friday - Bacon, love to hate?

What am I doing promoting bacon??! Well, there is no denying that the love or hate for bacon is always a great topic for foodies and health enthusiasts out there.

I always encourage my clients to enjoy all foods they eat, but remind them there are consequences with the choices they make. Healthy foods = healthy results. Fatty foods = fatty results.

Educating yourself about what you are putting into your body is another great way to help you with the choices you make. Although this may not necessarily stop you from eating another delicious bacon strip, it could shed a light on how often you may want to indulge and what you need to do to counteract the negative effects it may bring.

SO! That being said, let me introduce you to...BACON.

Bacon is any type of cured meat. Here is your first warning: anything that is cured/brined/smoked is considered processed meat. And no amount of processed meats are safe to eat, according to the American Institute for Cancer Research. If you are considered high risk for cancer, be cautious. It’s not clear how exactly processed meat raises cancer risks, but it might have to do with:

Nitrates, which are often used as preservatives in processed meat, change into N-nitroso (compounds that promote cancer) in the meat and also in the gut when it is being digested.
Carcinogenic PAH (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) compounds can be produced during processing.

Most commonly used is pork or turkey. Canadians tend to love side or back bacon which includes more lean meat than the American loving belly bacon which is mostly fat. Picking the right type of bacon can help shave off a little bit of fat. But considering that bacon is mostly saturated fats, you are only shaving off a little bit! Look at these numbers:
4 (14 grams) bacon slices
= 7.45 grams of fat (half is monounsaturated, a third is saturated and a sixth is polyunsaturated)
= 7.72 grams (0.27 oz) of protein
= contain up to 800 mg of sodium, which is roughly equivalent to 1.92 grams of salt
1 teaspoon of bacon grease = 38 calories
(The fat and protein content varies depending on the cut and cooking method.)

I am not going to lie, I do love me some crispy bacon with my sunny side-up eggs, but I probably let myself enjoy that once or twice a month. If I happen to do more, you can BET your ass I am sweating it up harder in the gym!

Until next time Team, what's your favorite way to cheat with Bacon?

Health respect & happiness
Beki