Bacon – One of the Healthiest Foods You Can Eat?!

On a daily basis, I receive at least a dozen pitches from PR firms all over North America.  I look at them all but seldom do I bite, especially since I try to keep the content on this site rather specific.  However when a headline reading “Bacon – The Next Health Craze?” hits my Inbox, it was unique enough to catch my eye.

Eating Bacon Dipped in chocolate at the Distillery Christmas Market in Toronto, ON

You see, bacon has always been popular – and I consider myself a fan.  Over the years I have enjoyed bacon with eggs, wrapped around a piece of meat, in pasta, on pizza and yes…even dipped in chocolate and eaten on a stick (It was yummy, BTW).  While enjoying it, I’ve always known about the negative health implications it has widely been known to represent, and as such I’ve tended to eat it rather sparingly.

While it’s also considered by many to be the ultimate food indulgence, it seems that according to Dr. John Salerno, a protégé of “Atkins Diet” creator Dr. Robert Atkins, bacon is one of the healthiest foods you can eat.

“Many think of bacon as one of the guiltiest pleasures possible, but it has also been shown to alleviate the effects of diabetes, heart disease and strokes,” says Dr. Salerno, author of “The Silver Cloud Diet,” (www.thesilverclouddiet.com). “Nitrate-free bacon is an excellent source of high protein, low-carbohydrate energy that helps to reset the metabolism, and it’s filled with amino acids delivered without the risk of dangerous levels of mercury, which can be found in many fish.”

Need more reasons to love bacon? (Uhmmm…okay!)

• It has a 4:1 ratio of protein to fat;
• It contains choline, which boosts memory and healthy brain function;
• It’s composed of monounsaturated fats, the kind that contains lots of healthy fat-soluble vitamins and minerals
• It’s a potent source of oleic acid and saturated fats, which help reduce levels of low density lipoprotein (LDL), lower triglycerides, and raise HDL – commonly referred to as the good form of cholesterol.

Apparently though, the supposed good news doesn’t end with just bacon.  Dr. Salerno says there are other indulgent-yet-healthy foods out there, including:

• Butter: Butter contains the highest amount of butyric acid found in a natural food source. Butyric acid is recognized for its roles in cellular health, antioxidant protection and metabolic properties; it also increases energy and may prevent cancer. Butter derived from natural, grass-fed animals is recommended.

• Barbecue: Add sauces and condiments and this American favorite will have more starch and sugar than Salerno recommends. But the main ingredient – meat – speaks to the heart of a low-carb, high-protein diet. Grass-fed hamburger meat and organic, hormone-free chicken provides the nutrients your body needs. Stay away from the buns, sugary condiments, sauces and marinades, and you can enjoy a healthy barbecue.

• Omelettes: Eggs contain lots of cholesterol and saturated fats, which have been demonized throughout the latter half of the 20th century. Fortunately, we know there is such a thing as good cholesterol and fat. Packed with vitamins, minerals and one of the best-absorbed proteins we can feed our body, any negatives associated with eggs are far outweighed by the benefits. Natural, unprocessed cheeses and cream add to the nutritional value of an omelet.

• Chocolate ice cream: Ice cream made with organic egg yolks, heavy cream and a small amount of stevia herb for taste, instead of sugar, is actually a healthy dessert. Fats are fine, with the exception of trans fats, so long as dieters control their carbohydrate intake. Humankind did not evolve with the vast amount of foods today that contain complex carbs and hidden sugar. Our bodies are used to high amounts of natural fat and a limited amount of unprocessed carbs.

All of this comes as a shock to me, and it’s one that admittedly I receive with a fair bit of trepidation.  I’ve never been on the Atkins Diet and I know that there is a great diversity of opinions on the program.  However it seems to me that even with some previously unrealized health benefits, one should likely balance their consumption with the reality that there are negative health aspects to these foods as well.  Sure, it might be great to get rid of the guilt that comes along with these gastronomic indulgences, but guilt is often derived from an element of truth so it’s pretty hard to ignore.

BUT WHAT ABOUT YOU?  Does this news shed new light?  Are you going to now head out to the supermarket to make BBQ steak with eggs friend in butter, then topped off with some chocolate dipped bacon for dessert?  Or do you see this as one opinion of many out there and as a result should be enjoyed…but only in moderation.

I’d be interested to read your thoughts.