Member-only story
Why Bacon is Healthy for You
Why would bacon be healthy for you when it’s filled with “artery-clogging” saturated fat, excessive amounts of sodium that raises blood pressure, and the “cancer-causing” nitrates/nitrites?
Would you believe me if I told you that all 3 of those points are myths and that bacon is healthier for you than you think?
Let’s talk about saturated fats
A majority of the public still thinks that saturated fats are linked to heart disease because they raise cholesterol. Saturated fats, without refined carbs and in the presence of enough omega-3, do not show to be harmful to your body (1). Nevertheless, the sugar industry back in the ’60s paid off scientists to claim saturated fats caused heart disease (2).
Sodium isn’t as bad as you think
People with salt-sensitive hypertension should avoid excessive sodium (salt) intake because it raises their blood pressure. However, there’s little to no association between salt consumption and hypertension (3). Sodium is an essential mineral which means it’s critical for our health. Excessive amounts risk kidney damage (4) and cognitive decline (5). The average American consumes nearly double the RDI. Anything in excess is harmful, so use moderation, but don’t worry about increasing blood pressure.
Nitrites/Nitrates are overblown
Finally, the big horror story of eating bacon nitrates according to mainstream health. Used in curing bacon, nitrates have been shown in only ONE study to increase the risk of cancers. This study has been discredited after being subjected to a peer review. Since then, significant scientific literature reviews have found no link between nitrates and cancers (6,7). What’s surprising is nitrates may even be beneficial for your immune system (8) and heart health (9) due to the conversion to nitric oxide.
It may come as a surprise to you, but one serving of arugula, two servings of lettuce, and four servings of celery or beets have more nitrates than 467 hot dogs (10). What’s more surprising is your saliva has more than all of them combined. That’s because salivary nitrite accounts for 70–90% of our total nitrite exposure.
