Official News - page 8

REAL LIFE NEWS: BACON IS REALLY BAD FOR YOU

by Hazed

Bacon causes lung disease. You thought it was smoking that was really bad for the lungs, but no, it's bacon. According to a recent Columbia University study, eating large quantities of cured meats like bacon could damage lung function and increase the risk of lung disease.

The study found that people who ate cured meats at least 14 times a month were more likely to have COPD – that is, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a catch-all term that includes illnesses such as bronchitis and emphysema.

One theory as to why bacon and other cured meats should have such an effect is that nitrates could be to blame. Cured meats use high levels of nitrates as preservatives, anti-bacterial agents and color fixatives.

The study looked at 7,352 Americans who had participated in a national health study between 1988 and 1994. It compared the results of lung function tests and the risk of developing COPD, and discovered that those who ate the cured meats more often had worse lung function and were more likely to have COPD.

So perhaps it's time to cut down on the bacon sandwiches! For more info, read this BBC News report.

Alternatively, if you can't bear the thought of doing without a daily BLT, just make sure you swill it down with a glass of red wine – because a study from 2003 shows that a chemical called resveratrol, which is found in red wine, seems to damp down inflammation in COPD. How convenient! Read about this study here.

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