Nitrates and nitrites have long been linked to cancer. We look at how they are part of a chain reaction that may not always be harmful to human health... So what’s the case with bacon?
Why worry-free? Because in 2015, the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) had classified bacon as “carcinogenic to humans”. The cancer link wasn’t exclusive to bacon though; the classification included all processed meats that had been “transformed through salting, curing, fermentation, smoking, or other processes to enhance flavour or improve preservation”, so ham, hot dogs, salami, and canned meats were on the list too. So for bacon-lovers, any product that is free from one of the cancer-causing nasties has to be good news indeed; but why had processed meats been given such a bad rap in the first place?
Cancer risk
To evaluate any cancer risk from red or processed meats, the IARC reviewed more than 800 studies on cancer in humans; out of these, more than 400 were on processed meat. What the IARC found was that eating processed meat was associated with small increases in the risk of cancer. Following analysis of 10 studies, it was also estimated that for every 50 g of processed meat eaten every day, the risk of colorectal (bowel) cancer increased by about 18 per cent. To put this into perspective, a couple of rashers of bacon could weigh between 30 and 60 g, depending upon their size. The NHS points out that a cooked breakfast containing two typical British sausages and two rashers of bacon is equivalent to 130 g.1
This story is from the Spring 2018 edition of Optimum Nutrition.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the Spring 2018 edition of Optimum Nutrition.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Gluten : Problem Protein Or Fad Food Fear?
The ‘gluten-free’ label is becoming a familiar sight. Mike Murphy looks at why more people are choosing to cut out this natural protein, even without doctors’ orders.
Summer Of
Summer is when we want to be out and about, as the warm embrace of the sofa on a cold winter’s night becomes a distant memory. So where do you go when the brain is willing but the body just can’t cut it at the same level of performance that it managed decades ago? Graeme Wilcockson reviews a few ways to satisfy those competitive weekend instincts that will tax both mind and body — yet leave you able to move on Monday morning
Eat For A Glow That Is More Than Skin Deep
Now that summer is here, it’s time to peel off the layers and make some vitamin D. But if your skin isn’t as peachy as you would like, or if you are worried about staying safe in the sun, find out how good nutrition may support your skin’s health. Maggie Charlesworth writes
Natural Beauty
If headlines about microbeads from cosmetics polluting our seas have got you wondering how you can do your bit for the environment, try using nature’s harvest to feed your skin. Hannah Maryse Robinson writes
Common Kitchen Practices Making Us Sick
Every year, thousands of us fall sick from food poisoning because of how we have handled food. Louise Scodie and Louise Wates look at common ways in which we are going wrong
Could Antioxidants Save Our Bacan?
Nitrates and nitrites have long been linked to cancer. We look at how they are part of a chain reaction that may not always be harmful to human health... So what’s the case with bacon?
Red Meat
Depending upon the headlines, red meat can be in or out of favour; we look at recent research.
The Big Sleep
With more demands on our time, sleep is becoming a poor relation. Jane Dawson investigates the associations between health, feeling good, and that all-important eight hours sleep a night.
Tea
Tea, especially the green variety, is often touted as a panacea for health and even weight-loss. Louise Wates puts the kettle on and looks at whether it is a reputation that is well-deserved.
When Bad Is Good
Social campaigner Mary Whitehouse abhorred it. Writer and actor Stephen Fry has publicly done and defended it. But how do you feel about swearing? Yeshi Dolma writes.
