Bacon has had a bad rap for a long time, but the health benefits of this tasty and nutrient packed food are now getting the attention they deserve!
Bacon & Appetite
Everyone has heard that bacon is fattening, but what really makes people fat is not one food or another. The biggest cause of overweight is eating too much, and, surprisingly, bacon can help keep appetite in control.
Fats in the diet are crucial for causing the body to feel satiety. This is the feeling of being full and content and not wanting more to eat. Bacon’s flavorful fats, when eaten in moderate amounts with other foods, can actually make a meal more satisfying and result in less food intake.
High Quality Protein
Pork meat has high quality protein that is easy to digest. Bacon contains these same healthy proteins as other kinds of pork. There are eight kinds of amino acids — the building blocks of all protein — that our bodies have to get from our foods. Bacon provides all of these essential amino acids that help build protein, giving us energy and resistance to disease.
Bacon & The Brain
Bacon provides good amounts of many trace minerals and vitamins, including zinc, thiamin, niacin, and B12. Another nutrient bacon is loaded with is choline. Choline is a nutrient that is especially important for memory and other brain functions. Research also shows that adequate intake of choline is associated with a reduced incidence of Alzheimer’s disease.
What About Nitrosamines?
Nitrosamines are unhealthy chemicals that can occur if bacon is overcooked. By cooking bacon without charring it, or baking it in the oven, the formation of nitrosamines is prevented. Baking bacon might sound funny, but it is really easy. Just put it in a frying pan or baking dish and bake for 8 to 10 minutes on each side.
Another way of counteracting nitrosamines is to eat dairy and citrus along with your bacon. These foods contain nutrients that stop the formation of nitrosamines during digestion, rendering them harmless and making the bacon healthier.
The satisfying fats, high amounts of nutrients, and unsurpassable flavor in bacon make it a good choice for a health conscious diet. Of course its important to remember moderation is key.