Meat, and mainly processed meats, is one of the biggest threats to human health today. Studies have shown that processed meats (which include hot dogs, cold cuts, and bacon) contain chemicals that may lead to cancer.
Processed meats aren’t exactly the most appetizing thing to even think about, but many of us eat them regularly without thinking twice. Addictive processed meats, such as hot dogs, bacon, and ham, are filled with artery-clogging sodium, unhealthy fat, and unhealthy preservatives. Not to mention the fact that artificially preserved meats also come with a laundry list of health risks.
Here’s How Can I Minimize Processed Meat Consumption:
- Eat plenty of vegetables
Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables is a very simple way to minimize your consumption of processed meat. Processed meats are meats that have undergone extensive processing, such as salting, curing, and preserving. These foods include bacon, sausage, hotdogs, ham, salami, corned beef, pastrami, and chicken nuggets.
- Shift shopping routine
While planning your weekly grocery shopping, it’s easy to veer off course from your original list. And what ends up in your cart isn’t always the healthiest choice. Buying meat, fish, or poultry, for example, often means a trip to the supermarket’s frozen section. But did you know that frozen meats aren’t always the best choice? We eat fast, and it’s often convenience that leads us to eat processed foods rather than taking the time to make healthy meals from scratch. While it’s easy to grab fast food on the go, this habit can lead to high-calorie and unhealthy eating habits. Try shifting your grocery shopping routine to healthy foods to minimize processed meat consumption.
- Undertake meal prepping
If there’s one problem with healthy eating, eating well can get expensive. Eating out, buying fresh fruit and vegetables, and investing in good-quality meat can all add up quickly. One way to cut down on your budget is to cook and freeze meals. According to one study, preparing and cooking your meals can save you $1,200 a year.
- Be creative in the kitchen
Processed meats are a treat for many, but a diet that revolves around meat like bacon, hot dogs, deli meats, and sausages isn’t exactly a healthy eating plan. Fortunately, you can maximize the nutrition in your food while minimizing your meat consumption. It just takes some creativity and some know-how processing technique. Be creative in the kitchen. Try using ground turkey or chicken instead of pork, and try using more vegetables, fruits, and other lean meats. Also, consider cooking your meats with fruits or vegetables that naturally contain nitrates.
- Set out some simple food swaps
Processed meats like bacon, sausage, salami, and hot dogs can not only increase your risk of cardiovascular disease but also have been linked to breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and pancreatic cancer. But how can you cut down on your processed meat consumption? Start by avoiding cured, smoked, and processed meats altogether. Look for fresh meats with no additives and no added nitrates or nitrites.
Processed meats are everywhere, but that doesn’t mean you have to eat them. Many processed types of meat contain ingredients like MSG, preservatives, and nitrates, which have been linked to a variety of health problems, from cancer to obesity.
The truth about processed meat is that it’s full of chemicals that harm your health and cause weight gain. When you eat meat, the oils, fat, and meat proteins break down in your stomach. This food is then sent to your small intestine, where your body digests it. This is where many processed foods go, such as bacon and hot dogs. However, these processed meats are processed into very small pieces, and your body has trouble digesting them. This causes inflammation, weight gain, and other problems.