Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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My wife and I have been paleo for 7 months and 90% of our grocery shopping is from TJ. One of our favorite products is the Uncured Apple Smoked Bacon.

We eat maybe 3 to 4 packages of this stuff a week but something recently has been concerning me.

All the paleo resources that I've read recommend eating only lean meats (if not grass-fed) due to the high amount of omega 6s in non-pastured fats.

Neither this bacon or any other bacon that I'be found makes any mention of pastured pigs.

I also see that in general, paleo people looovvve their bacon.

There seems to be something I'm missing here. Can someone clear up this discrepancy? Maybe that hogs are very different than cattle in their fat or what they eat?

Is it ok to be eating this much bacon?

We eat only grassfed beef (6.49/lb at TJ's) and omega 3 organic eggs (TJ's), wild caught salmon and wild caught shrimp.

flag	asked Mar 13 2012 at 16:57 studio35design 51●4

2

Bacon is definitely a beloved food here on PH. I personally put it in the "condiment" category. I buy a package and every day or 2 I eat 2-3 pcs with other meat. When I run out I wait a few weeks before buying another package. – Nance Mar 13 2012 at 17:07

Beth-WeightMaven · Answer 1 · 2012-03-13 17:32:02Z UTC

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I'm with the Whole9 folks on the question of bacon:

We cannot recommend consumption – even in “moderation” – of bacon from the factory farming system. If you want to enjoy bacon as part of your healthy, varied Paleo diet, you must take the time to seek out a pastured, organic source.

...

Know your context. Where and when appropriate, include bacon in the rotation with your other healthy protein sources. Consider using it as a condiment or in conjunction with other, more dense protein sources.

...

Bacon may be one of those “technically approved” foods that is all too easy to overconsume – and ongoing overconsumption is never healthy. Pay attention to what you’re eating and why, especially when it comes to sweet, salty and/or fatty foods (even if they are “Paleo”).

See the link for the whole (no pun intended ;) post.

answered Mar 13 2012 at 17:32

Beth-WeightMaven
15.3k●1●11●55

3

I think in the beginning there is an impulse to BACON ALL THE THINGS! Because bacon is tasty, easy to cook, and stores so well. But as you get better at cooking, you can become less dependent on it. I've kind of gotten over it myself. I use it mainly for flavoring in salads these days. – Bread-Eating Beelzebub Mar 13 2012 at 17:45

I've been meaning to try a Hangtown Fry (oysters, eggs, and bacon); I think that could be a semi-regular weekend meal for me. – Beth-WeightMaven Mar 13 2012 at 19:04

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Agree with Nance and Melissa. Bacon as a flavorant is great, 1-2 pieces bring a lot of tastiness to a dish. I hid a couple pieces under my meatloaf yesterday and it made it pretty awesome (however going overboard with bacon in meatloaf makes a nasty loaf.) Though I can down 8-10 slices if they're wrapping dates. – Matt Mar 13 2012 at 19:50

I completely agree with Melissa - bacon is a good "first food" for people new to paleo, because it's super delicious, makes everything it touches super delicious, and we've spent most of our lives thinking bacon was the most evil food in the world. So you go a little a crazy at first because you are finally allowed bacon, but in the long run it's best to figure out how to live life without it (unless you have access to pastured bacon, in which case don't ever talk to me because my head will explode with jealousy). – killerbee Mar 13 2012 at 19:54

Aughra · Answer 2 · 2012-03-13 19:49:56Z UTC

When I first made the switch to traditional foods and subsequently primal, we ate a lot of bacon. I think it helped me transition from a high reward carby grain based diet. Over time I ate less of it because I now find my everyday foods to be more satisfying. So to answer your question, no, that much bacon isn't optimal, but if it's helped you make the transition successfully I wouldn't sweat it that much. That said, perhaps you should switch to having some smoked wild salmon or fried strips of pastrami once in a while to lower your o6 intake, or just find a way to switch up your recipe rotation. Sourcing a healthier bacon would be better too.

Matt · Answer 3 · 2012-03-13 19:46:10Z UTC

Pork is naturally high on omega-6s, even if more naturally-raised. I would argue, however, that there's a difference between pork fat and industrially-refined seed oils. Abused omega-6s are unhealthy, excess omega-6s are perhaps just suboptimal.

Jules K · Answer 4 · 2012-03-13 19:56:34Z UTC

I've slowed my roll on the bacon a bit. I still love it, but my consumption has decreased a good bit over the last six months or so. There was some novelty in the beginning of being "allowed" to eat bacon ad libitum, and I think if you love it, it helps to keep you from eating cereal in the morning, and you are happy with how you feel, don't worry about it just yet.

Aside from the omega 6, I understand that the bad stuff that goes into factory farmed animals (antibiotics, etc.) can end up in its fat, so that's another reason to go easy on the non-pastured fatty meats.

studio35design · Answer 5 · 2012-03-14 05:26:18Z UTC

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Thank you all for your great comments and suggestions.

Ideally I would buy pastured bacon, I just can't find it where I live.

I definitely feel that bacon has helped my transition to Paleo and I'll be consuming much less of it now that I'm comfortable eating this way.

I'll continue to buy this TJ's bacon but probably stick to 1 or 2 packages a week instead of 3 or 4.

Thanks!

answered Mar 14 2012 at 5:26

studio35design
51●4

	PCC in Seattle has pastured pork products and I think they have the pastured bacon as well. It is in a really small fridege section in the back of the store. – Eric Mar 14 2012 at 5:34
	Thanks. I'm in the monterey bay area, in California, so thats it little far away. :) – studio35design Mar 15 2012 at 1:27

Eric · Answer 6 · 2012-03-14 05:37:04Z UTC

I like bacon. I have not bought pastured bacon yet. However I think I found some last week at PCC in a fridge in the back of the store. I actually have bacon unopened in my fridge that is way past the experation date... It has lost some of its appeal but I will eat it with no problem at all.

Question about TJ’s Uncured Apple Smoked Bacon and Omega 6s

6 Answers