November 10, 2015 | Blog
Americans love bacon! Our bacon craze continues and grows even crazier every year…you can buy bacon cookies, bacon ice cream, and even grilled cheese sandwiches wrapped with 10 strips of bacon.
Right here in Indianapolis, some of your favorite restaurants are going nuts with bacon! Cafe Patachou in Carmel offers a bacon-infused maple syrup, and at the Omni Severin Hotel you can get Bacon-on-a-Stick!
Bacon, and it’s purported negativeeffects on health, has been in the news lately, so we thought we’dresearch some of the more dramaticclaims that bacon causes cancer and other health problems. Here’s what we’ve found:
Each person, on average eats between 15-20 pounds of bacon per year. Bacon is very high in fat and sodium, both of which can negatively affect your health. Because bacon is “cured” (preserved with a combination of table salt, “pink salt” (usually sodium nitrate), and sugar), it often contains a combination of nitrites and nitrates, which have been linked to cancer. According to the American Institute for Cancer Research less than a couple slices of bacon a day can increase one’s risk for colorectal cancer by 21%. Every year around 143,000 Americans are diagnosed with this type of deadly cancer.
So…never eat bacon again? Hardly! As with everything in life, moderation is the key! Enjoy bacon every so often, but bemindful of the way it affects your health, both in the short and long term. Consider working in an egg-white omelet with a side of fruit or an avocado for your breakfast routine…you’ll feel great and be happy you did!