There have been a number of studies concerning processed meats that have hit the news over the past couple of years, and none of them have been good. While more study is always warranted, it seems very clear that processed meat is not good for you and can be directly linked to a wide range of negative health issues. Learning about the potential problems processed meats can cause is a very important first step in trying to improve your health. Once we cover some of the better-studied links between processed meats and illnesses, we will get into more details on what exactly processed meats are.
Known Chronic Diseases Linked to Processed Meats
The following chronic diseases have been directly linked to consumption of processed meats. The studies done are linked below for you to review if interested.
Bowel and Stomach Cancer – These are two particularly dangerous types of cancer and they have been linked to processed meats by multiple studies. You can find the studies here: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
Heart Disease – Heart disease is the leading cause of premature death in adults around the world. The following two studies have shown a direct link between heart disease and processed meats, 1, 2
High Blood Pressure – High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, can lead to stroke, heart attack and other issues. These two studies link processed meats to hypertension. 1, 2
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease – COPD is a disease that impacts airways and can cause a variety of problems including discomfort and difficulty breathing. The link to processed meats can be found here: 1,2, 3, 4
As you can see, the link between eating processed meats regularly and chronic diseases is quite clear. Taking steps to reduce or eliminate these foods from your diet is extremely important for improving your overall health.
What Makes a Meat Processed?
Processed meat is any meat that has been modified in order to adjust the taste or extend the shelf life of the food. This is typically done by smoking the meat, curing the meat, adding salt to the meat or using other types of preservatives. Many people mistakenly think that ground meat is also considered processed, but that is not the case. Of course, ground meat can be processed into jerky or other foods that would be considered processed. Simply grinding up meat, however, doesn’t make it processed any more than cutting the meat off of the animal into steaks.
Examples of Processed Meats
The following are some of the most common examples of processed meats that people consume on a regular basis:
Bacon
Sausage
Hot Dog
Bologna
Corned Beef
Jerky
Most Hams
Most canned meats
Meat based sauces
Pickled Meats
Spam
Chicken Nuggets
Breaded Chicken Tenders
Most lunch meats
Most Pre-Cooked Meats
There are other examples of processed meats that you may find in most supermarkets. In most cases it is fairly simple to identify these foods to avoid them. If the meat does not appear in its natural color, chances are it has been processed.
How to Avoid Processed Meats
Avoiding processed meats is surprisingly difficult in today’s culture. Most people consume some type of processed meat almost every day. One of the best things you can do to help minimize your intake of this dangerous food is to plan your meals ahead. Processed meats are most often more convenient than their fresh counterparts, so you’ll need to do a little extra work to avoid these risky foods. Cooking your meals several days in advance could make cooking easier when on the go. You can warm your meals up when you are ready. Another option to consider is having fresh meat thawed and ready to cook. While it will take some adjustment to your routine, eliminating processed food and meats is well worth the effort. Start today and soon it will be like second nature to shop only for fresh, natural meats.
