most recent 30 from http://paleohacks.com 2013-05-22T10:03:26Z http://paleohacks.com/feeds/question/152768 http://www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/rdf http://paleohacks.com/questions/152768/bursting-the-bacon-loving-bubble meta 2012-09-30T14:52:30Z 2012-11-16T07:09:18Z

<p>A recent question on how paleo interprets the consumption of processed meat like bacon, </p> <p>( see <a href="http://paleohacks.com/questions/151777/how-is-bacon-paleo" rel="nofollow">How is bacon paleo?</a>)</p> <p>generated an unusual opinion trend - it appears that most bacon consumers in this online community seem to <em>take leave of their senses when it comes to discussing bacon</em> even in the face of health risks associated with nitrite-based preservation where there is a real possibility of carcinogenicity due to the presence of, or conversion to, nitrosamines.</p> <p>Bacon is a greasy, salty, processed meat that is often burned during cooking and contains <a href="http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/pork-products/7676/2" rel="nofollow">negligible micronutrients</a>. It has a very poor omega 6:3 and sodium:potassium ratio. </p> <p>The preservation and coloring of meats with nitrites had no place in ancestral times - this is definitely very modern food processing. So why does bacon get a free pass?</p> <p>And more importantly, </p> <p><strong><em>Why is there such an emotional, knee-jerk response to any criticism against the health benefits of bacon?</em></strong></p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/152768/bursting-the-bacon-loving-bubble/152771#152771 borofergie 2012-09-30T14:57:39Z 2012-09-30T14:57:39Z

<p>Why do you say "greasy" and "salty" like it's a bad thing?</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/152768/bursting-the-bacon-loving-bubble/152772#152772 primallykosher 2012-09-30T14:59:05Z 2012-09-30T14:59:05Z

<p>It doesn't get a free pass in paleo kosher land. You can't really keep kosher if your eating any type of pork. The health issues relating to eating a scavenger animal are gone, except it might be high in 0mega 6 fatty acids. </p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/152768/bursting-the-bacon-loving-bubble/152773#152773 Alex 2012-09-30T15:03:36Z 2012-09-30T15:03:36Z

<p>It's great fun to make jokes about our dear friend, Barium Cobalt Nitride, but in real life I don't give it a free pass. I only buy uncured bacon, and I only eat it as an occasional treat.</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/152768/bursting-the-bacon-loving-bubble/152784#152784 Karen P. 2012-09-30T15:38:30Z 2012-09-30T15:38:30Z

<p>Yeah, this is a bit strawman.</p> <p>I buy uncured bacon from local, organic, pastured pigs that forage on acorns. I can't afford to get the meat broken down and analyzed for me, but I'm willing to bet the O3:O6 ratio is better than industrialized pork. </p> <p>Salt is not a health concern. This "grease" you mention is actually satiating fat.</p> <p>Its flavor is unlike anything else, it is irreplaceable. There's a reason it brings vegetarians back from the brink.</p> <p>At AHS this year, Mat LaLonde broke a bunch of foods down by their nutrient density, and bacon came out on top. The whole room whooped and hollered. I think the enthusiasm comes from the fact that bacon was so forbidden before in all of our SAD days. I can think of no better symbol of our freedom from that oppression. Bacon would be on our flag if Paleo people seceded. </p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/152768/bursting-the-bacon-loving-bubble/152786#152786 Matt 2012-09-30T15:44:35Z 2012-09-30T15:44:35Z

<p>The only evidence of there being a problem with bacon is a vague cured-meat/cancer link found in observational studies. After a ton of answers and even more comments in that question, there's a noticeable dearth of experimental data on the carcinogenicity of cured meats &amp; nitrates in animals. </p> <p>Even given the level of nitrosamines found in cured meats, it's well below what induces cancer in animal models. Mscott and I pondered this a while back: <a href="http://paleohacks.com/questions/139951/do-nitrosamines-produced-in-food-actually-cause-cancer" rel="nofollow">http://paleohacks.com/questions/139951/do-nitrosamines-produced-in-food-actually-cause-cancer</a></p> <p>If you're going to continue to rail on nitrates/nitrites, you need to put up or shut up: let's see the damning experimental studies, not vague, nebulous observational studies. </p> <p>The PUFA ratio is a bit of a non-starter. We're talking just 10% of fat calories being omega-6, and even then, these aren't isolated/extracted/oxidized/abused fats as cooking oils are. </p> <p>Is bacon optimal? Not really, nobody argues it is. Is it paleolithic? Nope. Is it paleo? More or less. </p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/152768/bursting-the-bacon-loving-bubble/152790#152790 crightfunnylol 2012-09-30T16:06:40Z 2012-09-30T16:06:40Z

<p>i rarely eat bacon, as i feel that there is better fatty meat options(just my opinion)</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/152768/bursting-the-bacon-loving-bubble/152794#152794 nada 2012-09-30T16:31:07Z 2012-09-30T16:31:07Z

<p>it tastes awesome</p>

http://paleohacks.com/questions/152768/bursting-the-bacon-loving-bubble/152871#152871 meta 2012-10-01T01:05:04Z 2012-10-23T23:49:39Z

<p>Matt, one of many bacon advocates, ironically summed it all up when he said,</p> <blockquote> <p><em>"Is bacon optimal? Not really, nobody argues it is. Is it paleolithic? Nope. Is it paleo? More or less."</em></p> </blockquote> <p>In other words, </p> <ol> <li>It's not an optimal food</li> <li>it's not paleolithic</li> </ol> <p>But for some reason it is <em>more or less paleo</em>.</p> <p>Having stumbled head on into a teeming frenzy of bacon lovers who are ready to defend bacon's honor with their last breath one cannot help but me reminded of religious zealotry. And in such circumstances, where reason takes flight and something else entirely gets in the drivers seat, it is time to say adieu for now on this topic. </p> <p><strong><em>To extend on the analogy of the bubble, it has not burst but swells like an abscess.</em></strong> </p>