HEALTHY-GOURMET.ORG
Marie
Lovenheim
Nutritionist
Lovenheim
Nutritionist
Making the ordinary extraordinary
Eat Well, Be Well Marie
SUMMER 2010
FOOD NEWS / RESEARCH
If you enjoy eating salami, hot dogs, and sausages, beef jerky, pepperoni, and bacon, be sure you're eating enough fruits and vegetables, according to a new study. Why?
Research recently published in the Archives of Internal Medicine found a connection between processed meat consumption and mortality rate, and that those who eat a lot of these meats tend to eat less produce.
The problem with cured meats is the addition of sodium nitrite, a cancer-promoting preservative which when heated to high temperatures, form nitrosamines-substances linked with pancreatic cancer, gastric cancer, colon cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD.)
On the other hand, vegetables typically have high levels of vitamin C and E, and beta carotene, all potent anti-oxidants which prevent the formation of nitrosamines. Nitrosamines require oxygen and heat as catalysts - that's why ANTI-oxidants are helpful!
Another study found that men and women who consumed large amounts of fats from animal foods (particularly red meat and dairy) had 53% and 23% higher relative rates of pancreatic cancer compared with those who's fat consumption came from plant food sources.
WHAT TO DO?
Cut down on eating the stuff, and when you do, be sure you're including anti-oxidant rich foods like tomatoes, peppers, dark green leafy vegetables, and fruit.
Buy "nitrite free" meat products. Where? You can find nitrite-free bacon at Trader Joe's, and other supermarkets are offering more meats cured without the use of nitrites.
Skip the BLT (bacon, lettuce and tomato) and enjoy an ALT (avocado, lettuce and tomato) instead.
Research recently published in the Archives of Internal Medicine found a connection between processed meat consumption and mortality rate, and that those who eat a lot of these meats tend to eat less produce.
The problem with cured meats is the addition of sodium nitrite, a cancer-promoting preservative which when heated to high temperatures, form nitrosamines-substances linked with pancreatic cancer, gastric cancer, colon cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD.)
On the other hand, vegetables typically have high levels of vitamin C and E, and beta carotene, all potent anti-oxidants which prevent the formation of nitrosamines. Nitrosamines require oxygen and heat as catalysts - that's why ANTI-oxidants are helpful!
Another study found that men and women who consumed large amounts of fats from animal foods (particularly red meat and dairy) had 53% and 23% higher relative rates of pancreatic cancer compared with those who's fat consumption came from plant food sources.
WHAT TO DO?
Cut down on eating the stuff, and when you do, be sure you're including anti-oxidant rich foods like tomatoes, peppers, dark green leafy vegetables, and fruit.
Buy "nitrite free" meat products. Where? You can find nitrite-free bacon at Trader Joe's, and other supermarkets are offering more meats cured without the use of nitrites.
Skip the BLT (bacon, lettuce and tomato) and enjoy an ALT (avocado, lettuce and tomato) instead.
Choose fresh, organic, free-range meat. It can be expensive, but the last time I checked, prices have been coming down, while cancer treatment is a bit on the pricey side.
COMMENTS ABOUT THE STUDY
It could be that other factors in the diets of those studied contributed to the chronic diseases they developed. The study found that those who frequently ate processed meats tended to not eat a lot of fish, fruit or vegetables and were more likely to smoke tobacco.
Smoking itself can put one more at risk for COPD. So the culprit could be an entire unhealthy diet and lifestyle, or just the nitrites. Either way, it's a good idea to eat veggies and fruit, more fish, less processed meats.
COMMENTS ABOUT THE STUDY
It could be that other factors in the diets of those studied contributed to the chronic diseases they developed. The study found that those who frequently ate processed meats tended to not eat a lot of fish, fruit or vegetables and were more likely to smoke tobacco.
Smoking itself can put one more at risk for COPD. So the culprit could be an entire unhealthy diet and lifestyle, or just the nitrites. Either way, it's a good idea to eat veggies and fruit, more fish, less processed meats.
PROCESSED MEAT AND CANCER???
WHEN GOOD FOOD GOES BAD
1. Fish is good for us. Fish sticks are not. As food manufacturers cut corners in their products to make money, the consumers buy transformed products thinking they are just as good.
2. As yogurt became mainstream over the years, it became adulterated with high fructose corn syrup, stabilizers, fillers, artificial colors and sweeteners. Granola bars were just made of the standard granola, not the kind with added marshmallows and caramel.
For a top 10 list of what's wrong with some foods, click here.
1. Fish is good for us. Fish sticks are not. As food manufacturers cut corners in their products to make money, the consumers buy transformed products thinking they are just as good.
2. As yogurt became mainstream over the years, it became adulterated with high fructose corn syrup, stabilizers, fillers, artificial colors and sweeteners. Granola bars were just made of the standard granola, not the kind with added marshmallows and caramel.
For a top 10 list of what's wrong with some foods, click here.
Yogurt with fruit - YUMMM!
Breading and deep fried - not so yumm.