Proteins are the major nutrients that provide the body with amino acids that are used in many biological roles in the body. You can get protein from both plant-based and animal-based foods, but when it comes to animal-based foods, you need to be more careful with your choices.
Animal protein provides many essential nutrients that the body needs, but you should choose lean cuts that are low in saturated fat and total fat mass. Processed meats and high-fat cuts are very saturated fat and are nutrients associated with an increased risk of heart disease. for that reason, Processed meat is not the healthiest choice for your heart..
How Does Processed Meat Affect Your Heart?
Processed meats are salted, hardened, or smoked meats, the most common examples of which are sausages and bacon. This processing of meat tends to result in higher amounts of the protein sodium, in addition to the higher amount of saturated fat that may already be in the meat.
As mentioned earlier, eating too much saturated fat increases your risk of heart disease.PURE (Positive Urban and Rural Epidemiology) Study published in American Journal of Clinical Nutrition Tracked 134,297 people for nearly a decade. The study found that higher intakes of at least 150 grams of processed meat per week compared to zero grams per week increased the risk of cardiovascular disease. It should be noted that no significant association was found between raw lean meat and poultry and major cardiovascular diseases.
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How much should I consume?
According to the 2020-2025 Diet Guidelines for Americans, it is recommended to have less than 10% of the total calories from saturated fat and up to 2,300 milligrams of sodium. Data from dietary guidelines show that almost all Americans consume more than the current sodium recommendations.
In general, three slices of cooked bacon contain about 95 calories, 7.75 grams of protein, 6.54 grams of fat, 2.38 grams of saturated fat, and 345 milligrams of sodium. This is close to 12% of the recommended daily saturated fat mass based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Remember that bacon is usually taken with other foods that are high in saturated fats and sodium.
If you choose to eat processed meats like bacon, choose to eat it in small portions from time to time. There is also uncured bacon. Uncured bacon does not cure using sodium nitrite. It tends to cure in the form of celery, which is a natural nitrite with sea salt and other fragrances added. The same applies to other processed meats and chickens. Often you will find a better version, made with less salted or thinner meat cuts.
Toby Amidor, MS, RD, CDN
Toby Amidor is an award-winning nutritionist The Wall Street Journal The authors of best-selling cookbooks, who believe to be healthy and healthy, can also be appetizing and tasty.read more
