STOP TRUSTING FAST FOOD AND PROCESSED MEATS

BY GEORGE RATTRAY

It is well established that, on average, vegans, vegetarians and pescatarians live longer, healthier and more pain free lives.  It is also well known and publicized that processed meats contribute to higher rates of cancer and type 2 diabetes. But there is another insidious element in processed and fast food meats, let’s take a closer look.

When we think of flour products, pastries, and dairy the health aware among us will often think of sugar content. Of course manufacturers and restaurants will put sugar in their products, after all it is addictive, and there have been many reports of fast food corporations actively researching how to peak their foods’ addictive component with the manipulation of  fats, salt, sugars and other additives.

What even the most informed among us do not consider is the sugar content in processed and fast food meats, and it is significant, at times extreme.

WHEN DID SUGARS IN/WITH MEATS CROSS MY RADAR?

I began to look at this situation when an InteKai Wellness System member gained weight in a week, where all the calculations said she should have lost. On looking at her meal images they appeared perfect, spot on portions, excellent protein to vegetable ratio, all seemed well, but it wasn’t.  The InteKai member readily said that because of time restrictions most of the proteins this week were bought from fast food institutions.  We were always cognizant of the fact that street bought foods were fat gainers, but just the proteins? This was a whole new level. 

If sugar was indeed added to these meats it would explain a lot. As sugar stimulates the insulin release and insulin is THE FAT STORAGE HORMONE; it detects that a ready energy source is available and signals A LOCKDOWN of the bodies fat stores.

Another red flag was the reaction of some members to processed meats.  Over time they realized that they experienced headaches when they had sugary foods, ice cream, cakes etc. this is not uncommon, when we clean the damaging habits out of our regular eating. Our bodies become more sensitive to toxic levels of refined foods such as sugar, diarrhea, in an attempt to flush it out and headaches.  I became aware that these members, who generally had good tolerances for salts and natural cuts of meats, also experienced the same type of headaches after eating processed meats.

HOW MUCH SUGAR CAN YOU HAVE?

For reference I will state here that the World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that for best health outcomes, THE MAXIMUM DAILY RECOMMENDATION FOR SUGAR should NOT EXCEED 25 GRAMS.  That INCLUDES sugars in fruits, vegetables, ground provisions, breads, seasonings, dressings, sauces, sugar added products and added sweeteners

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25 grams of sugar per day! That is the equivalent of any of the following:

• 1 large banana and 2 teaspoons of sugar in 2 cups of coffee
• 1 large apple
• One cup of the average cereal with 2% milk
• 8 ozs of soda
• 1 Snickers chocolate/candy bar

MANY “HEALTHY” FAST FOODS AND PROCESSED MEATS CONTAIN ADDED SUGARS

Commercially sugar is used in the process of meat curing. It is not clear why, but it is believed that it offsets the taste of salt which is also used in meat curing. Bacon is striking in this respect, as its distinct sweet taste is a result of the fried sugar content.

If it wasn’t bad enough, that sausages, pepperoni, salami and similar products are often made from the parts and cuts of meats, which are unwanted/too unsavory to sell on the shelves. Starches and flours however, are also added to those processed meats as binders.

For the most part restaurants and processed meat manufacturers do not list the amounts of sugars in their products. Usually only calories are listed, and occasionally saturated fats. However, added sugars, in preparations and sauces  in the form of molasses, sucrose, dextrose (corn sugar), sorbitol, are listed in the ingredients of a few restaurants’ meat products, including, KFC, Wendy’s, Chil-fil-A, Panera, Subway, Panda Express, Chipotle, McDonald’s and Taco Bell.

But after some research, here are a few examples of sugar in “healthy” fast foods:

• Panera Bread: Fuji apple chicken salad – 20 grams
• Wendy’s: apple pecan chicken salad – 40 grams
• KFC: large baked beans – 61 grams
• Boneless wings and sauce – 67 grams of sugar

Sugar is ubiquitous and added and refined sugars are insidious. But in general, processed meats are significantly dangerous.  A May 17, 2010 study published on Circulation, online journal, revealed that regularly having 1-2 slices of deli meats or 1 hot dog was associated with a 42% increase in the risk of developing heart disease and a 19% increase in the risk of developing diabetes. However, eating unprocessed clean cuts of meat did not result in a discernable increase of risks.

KNOWLEDGE AND GUIDANCE ARE KEY

Many people have been making choices which they believe to be healthy, but their weight and the resulting health risks (cancer and more) remain the same or worsen. Their heart issues remain threatening and their blood sugar levels remain elevated, in some cases continuously requiring medication.  Unknown to them, the non-carb, non-sugar meats products and dishes they have been ingesting have been elevating their blood sugar levels for years and decades.  You are only what you ingest.

It is possible to have processed meats as a part of your healthy diet, minimize their usage, read labels, contact your nutrition consultant.  Chose knowledgably and wisely, it will decide the life you end up with, choose nature, chose health.