One Step At a Time...
You Can Go Meatless One Day For All Three Meals
If you favor sizzling bacon and salty slices of ham, you might want to reserve these menu choices for special occasions, thanks to a growing body of science that says “No” to consuming processed meats. Researchers have linked higher consumption of these meats—bacon, sausage, hotdogs, processed deli meats like ham and salami—with a number of poor health outcomes, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer, and premature death.
Heart disease:
A Harvard meta-analysis, that included data on more than 1.2 million people found that processed meats were linked to a 42 percent higher risk of coronary heart disease (Circulation, 2010).
Type 2 diabetes:
Data from Harvards’ Health Professionals Follow-up Study, which followed more than 442,000 participants, revealed that eating a daily 50-gram (1.75 ounces) serving (about one hot dog or sausage) was linked with a 51 percent increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Cancer:
While processed meat intake has been associated with a number of cancers, the most conclusive link is with colorectal cancer. In the National Institutes of Health-AARP Diet and Health Study, that included more than 500,000 adults, a significant increased risk of colorectal and lung cancer was observed with higher intake of processed meat. The American Institute for Cancer Research warns against eating any amount of processed meat in order to reduce cancer risk.
Premature death:
A study published in March 2012 in the Archives of Internal Medicine evaluated data from more than 120,000 men and women over 28 years. The researchers found that a daily serving of processed meat increased the risk of death by 20 percent.
Why the risk?
There are several plausible reasons why processed meats may raise your risk for disease. These meats are often very high in saturated fats, which are known to raise “bad” LDL cholesterol levels, heart disease risk, and promote inflammation, a root of chronic disease. An ounce of pan-fried bacon (about one strip) has about 4 grams of saturated fat, 20% of your budget for the whole day. In addition, processed meats are typically very high in sodium; an ounce of pepperoni contains over 450 milligrams, about 20 percent of the daily allotment for healthy individuals. Keeping your sodium intake down can help protect you from high blood pressure and stroke. And more: Processed meats are prepared with carcinogen-forming compounds, such as nitrites. Your healthiest bet is to keep these processed meats to a minimum or avoid them entirely. Focus on fresh, minimally processed animal foods such as chicken, turkey, and fish, as well as more plant-based proteins, such as soy foods, beans, lentils, peas, nuts, and seeds.
Healthy Meatless Recipe:
Garden Veggie Egg Bake
(adapted from Taste of Home )
Looking for a healthy day-starter? Children will actually enjoy eating their veggies when they’re baked into this cheesy, nutrition-packed egg dish.
Ingredients
- 5 eggs
- 2 cups egg substitute
- 1/2 cup 2% cottage cheese
- 1/3 cup shredded pepper Jack cheese
- 1/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
- 1 medium zucchini, chopped
- 2 cups fresh broccoli florets
- 2 cups coarsely chopped fresh spinach
- 1/2 cup shredded carrots
- 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered
Directions
- In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, egg substitute, cheeses, pepper and pepper sauce. Stir in the vegetables. Transfer to an 11-in. x 7-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray.
- Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 45-50 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Let stand for 10 minutes before cutting. Yield: 6 servings.
Enjoy and Bon Appetit!
Healthy Weekly Motivator:
Do the Best for Your Breasts
Breast cancer is the second most common type of cancer diagnosed in American women. And although it's more rare, men can develop breast cancer, too. Fortunately, eating a healthy and balanced diet (especially high in fruits and vegetables), exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight, not smoking, and limiting alcohol consumption may all lower your risk of developing breast cancer.
This week, evaluate your current breast cancer prevention practices and check to see when your next screening should be. If you're between the ages of 50 and 74, you should have a mammogram once every 2 years. If outside of this age range, talk with your physician about your risk factors and when you should get screened for breast cancer.
Have a great week everyone and remember a better tomorrow starts with what you eat today! Do you have a favorite meatless recipe you would like to share with us? Send it my way!
Wishing you health and wellness from the inside out,
Lisa
LQ WELLNESS
Professional Wellness Coach
973-383-0955
Make sure to follow me on Twitter @lq_wellness
"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming
gardeners who make our souls blossom."
~ Marcel Proust ~
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