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Bacon Health Risks and Plant-Based Alternatives
It’s time to break up with bacon!
In this episode of The Exam Room™ podcast, “The Weight Loss Champion” Chuck Carroll interviews Neal Barnard, M.D., who explains the scientific reason why we’re hooked on bacon. Our brains are hardwired to fall in love with the salt and grease that is found abundantly in this dangerous breakfast meat. Factor in the pinch of sugar found in a lot of bacon, and the love connection gets even stronger!
While you may love bacon, bacon certainly doesn’t love you back. Dr. Barnard also discusses the long-term health risks associated with eating it, including a substantially higher risk of developing cancer. Did you know that eating just two strips per day increases the risk of colorectal cancer by nearly 20 percent? And the more you eat, the greater the risk of dying from other cancers, as well as heart disease.
The good news for bacon lovers is that there are plant-based alternatives that have all of the flavor but none of the risk.
Maggie Neola, R.D., joins Chuck to share four of the tastiest vegan bacon recipes you’ll ever find! We’re talking about “bacon and eggs,” BLTs, “bacon burgers,” and even “bacon bits” for topping salads!
Plus, they do a head-to-head nutritional comparison of pork and the plant-based bacon that you have to hear about to believe.
If you live in the Washington, D.C. area, Maggie is available for consultation at the Barnard Medical Center.
Recipes
- “Bacon and Eggs” - Start with the Breakfast Tofu Scramble recipe from the 21-Day Vegan Kickstart app and add a side of Easy Tofu Bacon.
- Vegan BLT - This is an easy BLT recipe with eggplant bacon and spicy cashew Sriracha that is fit for the biggest bacon fans.
- Salad with “Bacon Bits” - Start with the Good Enough For Guests Green Salad from the 21-Day Vegan Kickstart app and top it with crumbled bits from a plant-based bacon of your choice.
