Is there an unprocessed bacon?

Uncured bacon is bacon that hasn't been cured with sodium nitrites. Usually, it's cured with a form of celery, which contains natural nitrites, along with plain old sea salt and other flavorings like parsley and beet extracts. Uncured bacon has to be labeled “Uncured bacon.

healthline.com - Cured vs. Uncured Bacon - Healthline

Are tomatoes keto?

Botanically speaking, tomatoes are considered a fruit. However, unlike other fruit, they're considered keto-friendly. That's because tomatoes...

Last updated Mar 27, 2020

What is the healthiest way to cook a potato?

According to Julie Upton, MS, RD, and member of our Medical Expert Board, the healthiest way to eat your potatoes is to leave the skin on and bake...

Last updated Sep 14, 2021

Promotion

Overview Bacon. It’s there calling to you on the restaurant menu, or sizzling on the stovetop, or tempting you in all its fatty goodness from the ever-expanding bacon section of your supermarket. And why is that section ever-expanding? Because bacon manufacturers keep coming up with new ways to make bacon sound even better, with descriptions like applewood, center cut, and Irish bacon. But, the only thing about bacon that might make a difference in terms of your health is whether your bacon cured or uncured.

Bacon basics Bacon is typically high in sodium, total fat, and saturated fat. And if you aren’t eating small servings, you’re getting even more sodium and fat. High sodium is a risk factor for high blood pressure. The American Heart Association recommends no more than 2,300 mg of sodium daily. Overconsumption of saturated fat is linked to high cholesterol , which can build up in the arteries and cause heart problems. The 2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend limiting saturated fat to no more than 10 percent of total calories. In addition, fat contains 9 calories per gram, more than double that of protein and carbohydrates, which both contain 4 calories per gram. People who aren’t mindful of total calorie intake when consuming foods with higher fat may experience weight gain. So how does cured vs. uncured bacon make a difference regarding your health?

What is curing? Curing is a process used to preserve food. It also adds flavor. You can cure foods yourself with smoke or by packing them with salt. A combination of salt, sugar, and other flavors tastes better, though. Cured bacon technically means any form of preserved bacon. Since all bacon is preserved with either smoke or salt, there is no such thing as uncured bacon. But that fact hasn’t stopped marketers from seizing on the terms “cured” and “uncured.” So what do these terms mean?

Cured vs. uncured Cured bacon is preserved with a commercial preparation of salt and sodium nitrites. Nitrites are additives responsible for giving bacon its pink color, among many things. There are two methods of curing: pumping and dry-curing. The concentration of nitrites can’t exceed 200 parts per million (ppm) in dry-cured bacon and 120 ppm in pumped bacon, according to the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). Uncured bacon is bacon that hasn’t been cured with sodium nitrites. Usually, it’s cured with a form of celery, which contains natural nitrites, along with plain old sea salt and other flavorings like parsley and beet extracts. Uncured bacon has to be labeled “Uncured bacon. No nitrates or nitrites added.” However, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have nitrites from naturally occurring sources.

How long should you soak oats before eating?

If you soak your oats overnight at room temperature (do not put them in the fridge!) between 7-15hrs it allows the natural enzymes and other...

Last updated Mar 24, 2021

How much chocolate can you have on keto?

While 1 ounce (28 grams) of high quality dark chocolate can fit into a keto diet, a larger serving will likely exceed your limit. Dark chocolate...

Last updated Apr 22, 2021

Promotion

Are nitrites bad for you? You might have heard that the nitrites used to cure bacon and other meats are associated with a higher incidence of certain cancers. Or that nitrites are in rat poison. So why are nitrites added to food in the first place? Along with making bacon pink, nitrites maintain bacon’s flavor, prevent off odors, and delay the growth of the bacteria that cause botulism. Nitrites also occur naturally in many foods, including many vegetables. However, a vegetable diet is less likely to put you at risk for colon or pancreatic cancer than a diet containing lots of processed bacon and hot dogs. This is because vegetables also tend to contain a lot of vitamin C, among many other healthy vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. In the highly acid environment of your stomach, nitrites can be converted to nitrosamines, a deadly carcinogen. However, vitamin C appears to prevent this conversion. Since the vegetables that contain nitrites also have high levels of vitamin C, eating them sidesteps the risks involved in eating lots of high-nitrite foods that don’t contain vitamin C.

healthline.com - Cured vs. Uncured Bacon - Healthline

Why is my groin sticky and smelly?

Just like underarms, the groin area is also naturally colonized with certain bacteria which contributes to the production of unwanted smell....

Last updated Aug 12, 2021

When should I stop losing weight?

Bottom line: when you've hit the tipping point where you really can't eat less without feeling lousy and the scale has stopped moving, you're at...

Last updated May 12, 2019

Promotion

What are the disadvantages of cucumber?

As discussed earlier, cucumbers are loaded with an element called cucurbitacin. Besides being diuretic, it can trigger indigestion in people with a...

Last updated Jul 6, 2020

Promotion

What drink significantly lowers blood sugar?

Drinking water regularly may rehydrate the blood, lower blood sugar levels, and reduce diabetes risk ( 20 , 21 ). Keep in mind that water and other...

Last updated Nov 22, 2018