The meat even has its own national recognition day, perAwareness Days.
The enduring popularity of bacon flies in the face of its lackluster nutritional profile.
As a processed meat, bacon is not what most experts would consider a health food.
What happens if you eat bacon every day?
Can you eat bacon every week as long as you do it in moderation?
What does moderation even mean when it comes to bacon?
Flavored bacon, such Hormel’s brown sugar bacon, means added sugar comes along as well.
Like most foods, bacon isnt all bad, however.
For those reasons, Smith suggests that bacon be enjoyed in moderation, like other high-fat or high-sodium foods.
But few bacon enthusiasts show that kind of restraint when faced with an abundance of their favorite cured meat.
Restaurants typically serve three or four slices of bacon, often thick-cut, as a breakfast side dish.
The increased risk for cancer isnt the only reason to be wary of processed meats.
Theres also the question of nitrates, which are used in bacon to preserve color and flavor.
Your body doesnt know the difference between these natural nitrates and the synthetic ones traditionally used,Harvard Healthreports.
How Much Bacon Is Safe to Eat?
At that rate, a serving could be three to four slices.
You cant add bacon, too.
Remember, all bacon is a highly processed food rich in sodium.
Smith and Derocha both say theres a way to make bacon a little healthier.
Joy Manning is a health writer and former nutrition editor forPreventionmagazine.
