Is No Nitrate Lunch Meat Healthy?
isn’t better :
- Simply Delicious Hickory Smoked Ham from Land O’Frost.
- Simplicity® Round Roast Beef All Natural Boar’s Head*.
- Oscar Mayer Deli Fresh Low Sodium Roasted Chicken Breast.
- Applegate Naturals® rökt kalkonbröst.
there are no added nitrates. Which deli meats have no nitrates? Applegate | Black Forest Uncured Ham: Like many other of the best deli meats, this product is uncured so it has NO added nitrates or nitrites (except those naturally occurring with the celery powder). How can you tell if deli meat is nitrate free?
Who makes the healthiest lunch meat?
- Simply Delicious Hickory Smoked Ham from Land O’Frost.
- Simplicity® Round Roast Beef All Natural Boar’s Head*.
- Oscar Mayer Deli Fresh Low Sodium Roasted Chicken Breast.
- Applegate Naturals® rökt kalkonbröst.
The category includes hot dogs, ham, bacon and turkey bacon, corned beef, pepperoni, salami, smoked turkey, bologna and other luncheon and deli meats, sausages, corned beef, biltong or beef jerky, canned meat and meat-based preparations and sauces, among others.
The best low sodium foods among meat, fish, and poultry items include: Cornish chicken: An ounce (28 grams) of cooked and roasted Cornish Chicken provides 72 calories including 46 calories from fat, 5 grams of fat, 37 mg of cholesterol, 18 mg of sodium, no carbs, and 6 grams of protein.
How to avoid nitrates in lunch?
Alternatively, cook fresh meat at home to eliminate your intake of processed meats altogether. Bake lean turkey or chicken breasts, and and then slice thin for use in sandwiches and wraps. Freeze any leftovers to prolong their shelf life.
In this study, luncheon meats were listed among the processed foods with the highest nitrate concentration. Additionally, some studies have linked obesity, type 2 diabetes, various cancers and cardiovascular conditions with frequent consumption of processed meats, according to the Foundation for Meat and Poultry Research and Education.
Lunch meat refers to any type of sliced meat, usually sold at the deli counter in the grocery store or in the refrigerated meat case in presliced packages.
Sodium nitrate, a type of salt, is added to cold cuts to stabilize the colors and extend its shelf life. Sodium nitrite is a chemical compound derived from nitrates that prevents the growth of the bacteria Clostridium botulinum in processed meat, a toxin that can cause a dangerous condition called botulism.
Nitrates are converted into nitrites when they come into contact with certain types of bacteria. “Nitrates and nitrites are naturally occurring compounds that are created when plants break down during photosynthesis,” according to lunch meat producer Applegate Farms.
While nitrates protect from bacteria and make cold cuts safe for us to eat, there is an associated health risk. According to a study published in 2017 by “Journal of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics,” risk of colorectal cancer is increased by 18 percent in people who eat 50 grams of processed meat daily. In this study, luncheon meats were listed among the processed foods with the highest nitrate concentration. Additionally, some studies have linked obesity, type 2 diabetes, various cancers and cardiovascular conditions with frequent consumption of processed meats, according to the Foundation for Meat and Poultry Research and Education.
Lunch meats with this label can in fact contain the preservative nitrates. The USDA requires that meats prepared without synthetic sodium nitrate carry this label. Meats that are cured with organic nitrates, those made from celery juice and sea salts, must still have this label.
What foods contain sodium nitrate?
This includes the deli meats you find in prepacked lunch kits and bagged salad kits that contain bacon, ham or other meats. Canned beans or vegetables containing bacon may also contain either sodium nitrate or potassium nitrate. It is also used as a preservative in bacon, salami, sausages, pepperoni and packaged seafood, so the best way to avoid it is to carefully read the labels when you’re shopping.
Another way to avoid sodium nitrate is to make your own cold cuts by roasting chicken, turkey or beef and slicing them yourself.
It is used as a preservative to keep bacteria from forming in cold cuts. It is also the ingredient that makes hot dogs and bologna pink. Without sodium nitrate, they would be gray, which is not very appetizing.
Lunch Meat Without Sodium Nitrate. Most diet and nutrition experts recommend avoiding processed foods, including deli meats – and with good reason. Aside from being high in regular sodium and fat, deli meats often contain sodium nitrate. This compound is used as a preservative and a coloring agent and has been linked to serious health problems.
Nitrates occur naturally in grains and in all plants, but are found in the highest concentrations in beets, cabbage, celery, endive, fennel, leafy greens, leeks and parsley. By themselves, they pose no threat to your health.
Canned beans or vegetables containing bacon may also contain either sodium nitrate or potassium nitrate . It is also used as a preservative in bacon, salami, sausages, pepperoni and packaged seafood, so the best way to avoid it is to carefully read the labels when you’re shopping.
Why are nitrates used in meat?
They have a certain look and taste — that salty, cured flavor many people crave. “In the case of meat processing, they’re used to preserve meat, prevent the growth of harmful bacteria, and sometimes they’re used to produce a desired color or flavor,” explains Samantha Cassetty, MS, RD, a dietitian in New York City and co-author of Sugar Shock.
You can also mix meat with plant proteins to reduce intake. “An example of mixing plant-based protein and red meat is a burger made half with ground beef and half with tofu or chopped-up edamame,” says Jonathan Valdez, RD, a spokesperson for the New York State Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Nitrates can be added to any processed meat, including deli meat, bacon, sausage, hot dogs, salami, chorizo and jerky. Technically, turkey and chicken made with nitrates fall into this category, too. The most important thing you should know about nitrates: They can harm your health.
The truth is, processed meats like bacon and sausage are foods you should eat in moderation— o r if you’re being really watchful of your health, perhaps not at all. With recent news from the USDA on potential updates to labeling regulations for foods containing nitrates and nitrites, things are about to get clearer.