Is packaged ham REALLY that bad?

26-04-2014 06:23PM

Would people consider good quality rashers (97%+ pork) to be as bad as packaged ham? If so I'm bollocksed... and I think I'd rather die a few years younger than give up having eggs and rashers for breakfast.

Ann Landers · 26-04-2014 06:32PM

gvn wrote: »

Would people consider good quality rashers (97%+ pork) to be as bad as packaged ham? If so I'm bollocksed... and I think I'd rather die a few years younger than give up having eggs and rashers for breakfast.

No, rashers would be better for you. Less processed.

El_Dangeroso · 26-04-2014 06:38PM

gvn wrote: »

Would people consider good quality rashers (97%+ pork) to be as bad as packaged ham? If so I'm bollocksed... and I think I'd rather die a few years younger than give up having eggs and rashers for breakfast.

Drink a glass of orange juice with it, the antioxidants help counteract the AGEs in the bacon, red wine will also work, but I don't think you want to be drinking wine for breakfast.

Orla K · 26-04-2014 06:42PM

El_Dangeroso wrote: »

Drink a glass of orange juice with it, the antioxidants help counteract the AGEs in the bacon, red wine will also work, but I don't think you want to be drinking wine for breakfast.

Woo! I would so drink red wine for breakfast! (maybe lunch and dinner too)

26-04-2014 06:50PM

El_Dangeroso wrote: »

Drink a glass of orange juice with it, the antioxidants help counteract the AGEs in the bacon, red wine will also work, but I don't think you want to be drinking wine for breakfast.

Let's not rule that out.

Ann Landers · 26-04-2014 08:18PM

Orla K wrote: »

Woo! I would so drink red wine for breakfast! (maybe lunch and dinner too)

I wouldn't because it'd make me want to spend the rest of the day snoozing. :pac: I know in some countries people will have beer with breakfast or lunch and it's normal, with no harm done. I just couldn't do it though, booze makes me so sleepy. When I feel sleepy at night from booze, it feels more normal because it's a time I'd be getting sleepy anyway!

Alf Veedersane · 26-04-2014 10:04PM

The recipe for success sounds like rashers and wine for breakfast followed by a trip to the gym to do some shrugs to make it extra French.

norwegianwood · 27-04-2014 12:34PM

I've studied this a bit in college, and while it's probably not going to have a detrimental effect in moderate doses, it's not going to do wonders for your health either. Processed ham, depending on the quality, will be pumped with varying amounts of preservatives like salt, sugar, nitrates/nitrites and ascorbic acid, probably stuff your body can do without. Under certain conditions, the presence of nitrites can lead to nitrosamine formation which have been shown to be carcinogenic. But then, unless you're eating 20 packets of ham a day there's probably nothing to worry about, I wish packet ham was the worst thing about my diet.:pac:

Amazingfun · 28-04-2014 08:43AM

Processed ham, depending on the quality, will be pumped with varying amounts of preservatives like salt, sugar, nitrates/nitrites and ascorbic acid, probably stuff your body can do without.

:rolleyes:

The belief that nitrates and nitrates cause serious health problems has been entrenched in popular consciousness and media. Watch this video clip to see Steven Colbert explain how the coming bacon shortage will prolong our lives thanks to reduced nitrates in our diets.

In fact, the study that originally connected nitrates with cancer risk and caused the scare in the first place has since been discredited after being subjected to a peer review. There have been major reviews of the scientific literature that found no link between nitrates or nitrites and human cancers, or even evidence to suggest that they may be carcinogenic. Further, recent research suggests that nitrates and nitrites may not only be harmless, they may be beneficial, especially for immunity and heart health.

http://chriskresser.com/the-nitrate-and-nitrite-myth-another-reason-not-to-fear-bacon

mickman · 28-04-2014 09:58AM

Amazingfun wrote: »

:rolleyes:

http://chriskresser.com/the-nitrate-and-nitrite-myth-another-reason-not-to-fear-bacon

Hardly someone who is a world renowned nutrionalist

My name is Chris Kresser, and I'm a licensed acupuncturist and practitioner of integrative medicine

Amazingfun · 28-04-2014 10:10AM

mickman wrote: »

Hardly someone who is a world renowned nutrionalist

My name is Chris Kresser, and I'm a licensed acupuncturist and practitioner of integrative medicine

:rolleyes:

If you disagree with him, as your tone suggests, any chance you could argue with the actual evidence he presents instead of attacking him?

**evidence can be found in the links/notes in blue embedded throughout the article

dor843088 · 28-04-2014 10:14AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0qIdat6xDI&feature=youtube_gdata_player

mickman · 28-04-2014 12:15PM

Amazingfun wrote: »

:rolleyes:

If you disagree with him, as your tone suggests, any chance you could argue with the actual evidence he presents instead of attacking him?

**evidence can be found in the links/notes in blue embedded throughout the article

Its highly irresponsible for this chap to be going around saying nitrates are good for you

Amazingfun · 28-04-2014 12:17PM

mickman wrote: »

Its highly irresponsible for this chap to be going around saying nitrates are good for you

Ummmm: why is that?

mickman · 28-04-2014 12:22PM

Amazingfun wrote: »

Ummmm: why is that?

as he is not qualified to do so

norwegianwood · 28-04-2014 12:28PM

Never said they caused cancer, just that your body doesn't need them, no need for the passive aggression. But then, who am I to question the word of chriskresser.com.

Amazingfun · 28-04-2014 12:49PM

mickman wrote: »

as he is not qualified to do so

Says who? You? lol.

And why didn't you deal with the evidence he presented, as requested?

Amazingfun · 28-04-2014 12:54PM

norwegianwood wrote: »

Never said they caused cancer, just that your body doesn't need them, no need for the passive aggression. But then, who am I to question the word of chriskresser.com.

But it's not "Chris Kesser's word", is it? Look at the studies he presented to buoy his argument. And by the way this was all discussed in the early pages of this thread, hence my *eyeroll* when the "nitrates are bad" stuff started up again.

**You know we have nitrates in our saliva?

When it comes to food, vegetables are the primary source of nitrites. On average, about 93% of nitrites we get from food come from vegetables. It may shock you to learn that one serving of arugula, two servings of butter lettuce, and four servings of celery or beets all have more nitrite than 467 hot dogs. (2) And your own saliva has more nitrites than all of them! So before you eliminate cured meats from your diet, you might want to address your celery intake. And try not to swallow so frequently.

El_Dangeroso · 28-04-2014 02:02PM

Nitrates are a red herring when it comes to cured meats. It's most likely Advanced Glycation Endproducts (AGEs) that cause an issue if anything.

nice_guy80 · 28-04-2014 02:16PM

TimeToShine wrote: »

I'd be more worried about the white bread and cheese than the ham but that's just me!

bingo.
why have ham when you can have egg. or tuna.

mickman · 28-04-2014 02:17PM

Amazingfun wrote: »

Says who? You? lol.

And why didn't you deal with the evidence he presented, as requested?

Do you bow down to CHris Kesser every evening before bedtime ?

Eat your packaged ham like a good lad

Ashbx · 28-04-2014 02:30PM

There is a programme on Channel 4 (I don't want to name it incase its not allowed!) that ring the likes of Denny support and ask them questions about the product. So one particular one he did was about processed meat. Its a very informative programme and if you are genuinely interested in this, you should give it watch.

The only one I did watch was actually about processed ham and he questioned everything they put on the label. Not sure if all of them are the same but the main issue with these hams is that, yes its all from the same part of the animal (like the leg) but the one slice of ham you have, could have 10 different pigs legs in it! Whereas, you buy a joint of ham in a butcher and that is obviously all from one animal. The other thing was the "glue" that they used...this is the nasty part. If a mod can confirm I can name the programme, I will but defo suggest you should give it a watch and you may think twice about processed ham going forward.

mickman · 28-04-2014 02:32PM

Ashbx wrote: »

There is a programme on Channel 4 (I don't want to name it incase its not allowed!) that ring the likes of Denny support and ask them questions about the product. So one particular one he did was about processed meat. Its a very informative programme and if you are genuinely interested in this, you should give it watch.

The only one I did watch was actually about processed ham and he questioned everything they put on the label. Not sure if all of them are the same but the main issue with these hams is that, yes its all from the same part of the animal (like the leg) but the one slice of ham you have, could have 10 different sheeps legs in it! Whereas, you buy a joint of ham in a butcher and that is obviously all from one animal. The other thing was the "glue" that they used...this is the nasty part. If a mod can confirm I can name the programme, I will but defo suggest you should give it a watch and you may think twice about processed ham going forward.

That is just gross! meat from different animals

conzy · 28-04-2014 02:39PM

Ashbx wrote: »

There is a programme on Channel 4 (I don't want to name it incase its not allowed!) that ring the likes of Denny support and ask them questions about the product. So one particular one he did was about processed meat. Its a very informative programme and if you are genuinely interested in this, you should give it watch.

The only one I did watch was actually about processed ham and he questioned everything they put on the label. Not sure if all of them are the same but the main issue with these hams is that, yes its all from the same part of the animal (like the leg) but the one slice of ham you have, could have 10 different sheeps legs in it! Whereas, you buy a joint of ham in a butcher and that is obviously all from one animal. The other thing was the "glue" that they used...this is the nasty part. If a mod can confirm I can name the programme, I will but defo suggest you should give it a watch and you may think twice about processed ham going forward.

I will stop eating packaged ham if there is sheep in it alright

Ashbx · 28-04-2014 02:40PM

conzy wrote: »

I will stop eating packaged ham if there is sheep in it alright

I cant believe I actually wrote that! That should read pig!

Ashbx · 28-04-2014 02:42PM

conzy wrote: »

I will stop eating packaged ham if there is sheep in it alright

Well with all this horse meat etc, you just never know, could be a bit of sheep in there too

mickman · 28-04-2014 02:43PM

Ashbx wrote: »

Well with all this horse meat etc, you just never know, could be a bit of sheep in there too

this is the problem. with meat in packets, we just dont know what is in it

maximoose · 28-04-2014 02:43PM

Why could you not name the program? Sounds like Dispatches.

Ashbx · 28-04-2014 02:52PM

maximoose wrote: »

Why could you not name the program? Sounds like Dispatches.

Because I never know what can be mentioned and what cant be! Its called Food Unwrapped! http://www.channel4.com/programmes/food-unwrapped

Alf Veedersane · 28-04-2014 03:00PM

conzy wrote: »

I will stop eating packaged ham if there is sheep in it alright

Mutton dressed as ham, wha'!

Is packaged ham REALLY that bad?

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