A Guilt-Free Hamburger

Wall Street Journal ^ | May 18, 2010 | Ron Winslow

[reaganaut1]

...

A new study from the Harvard School of Public Health suggests that the heart risk long associated with red meat comes mostly from processed varieties such as bacon, sausage, hot dogs and cold cuts—and not from steak, hamburgers and other non-processed cuts.

The finding is surprising because both types of red meat are high in saturated fat, a substance believed to be partly responsible for the increased risk of heart disease. But the new study raises the possibility that when it comes to meat, at least, the real bad actor may be salt. Processed meats generally have about four times the amount of salt then unprocessed meats.

Processed meats such as bacon and sausage have four times the amount of salt as steak and hamburgers. In a report that pooled data from 20 different studies from around the world, the researchers found that daily consumption of about two ounces of processed meat was associated with a 42% increased risk of heart disease and a 19% heightened chance of diabetes. By contrast, a four-ounce daily serving of red meat from beef, hamburger, pork, lamb or game wasn't linked to any increased risk of heart disease. There was, however, a small, but statistically insignificant risk of diabetes.

While the study is far from definitive, researchers said the findings suggest that people, especially those already at risk of heart problems or with high blood pressure, should consider reducing consumption of bacon, processed ham, hot dogs and other packaged meats that have a high salt content. Salt increases blood pressure, a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

"The conventional wisdom is that red meats have higher saturated fat and cholesterol levels," factors that have made all red meats potential culprits in raising the risk of cardiovascular disease

[reaganaut1]

OK, I'll have a burger and skip the bacon.

[Doogle]

[12Gauge687]

Crank up the Weber! We’re grillin’ today! For something really lean, I’m going with bison burgers with grilled onions and sauteed mushrooms.

[MissTed]

I'll keep running & drink lots of water, but gots to have my bacon!!

[GeronL]

four ounces?? Who stops at four ounces??

[ConservativeMan55]

bttt

[Artemis Webb]

I feel healthy already:

[cowtowney]

What about Sodium Nitrate? I’d say that had something to do with it.

[ETL]

"Salt increases blood pressure, a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease."

I read somewhere a while back that the link between salt and high blood pressure is such that salt helps the body retain water. The excess water swells the tissues and puts pressure on blood vessels, sort of like how squeezing a garden hose results in the water shooting out of it more forcibly.

[golas1964]

Om-nom-nom!!

[golas1964]

Now that’s a good looking burger! (just needs ketchup and mustard - maybe a few onions)

[FrankR]

Actually, I'm always "guilt free" when I eat a burger.

I'm 64 and I've been eating juicy hamburgers since before I can remember. And, I've discovered that the leaner the meat, the yuckier the burger. I stopped buying "ground round" and all that, and went back to plain ol' ground beef...the cheaper stuff.

All this is about - the food police and obamacare - is keeping the "herd" fit, so they will be better producers. When you're too old to produce, you'll received an invitation to the "death panel" revue board meeting.

We are being "raised" like cattle by the skinny kenyan, who orders both french fries AND onion rings with his burger, and has a cigarette afterwards.

Then, they are talking about chip implants, or tattoo id to keep the herd accountable - cows get ear tags or branding irons.

Every April 15th is "milking time" when they reap from the productive members of the herd.

Once we are all "fit" in the eyes of der furher we will be then sent to re-education camps to get our minds right, and we become the new slave generation.

Unless we all vow to become little "Patrick Henrys", we'd better hone up on our cotton picking skills.

[ETL]

[ETL]

[NCjim]

[The Great RJ]

In time salt will be banned by the government and organized crime will be selling it in back alleys along with cigarettes, incandescent light bulbs and high flow toilets. Ironically marijuana maybe legalized and sold by the government to provide more tax revenue.

[Ratman83]

That all looks yummy

[SunkenCiv]

A new study from the Harvard School of Public Health suggests that the heart risk long associated with red meat comes mostly from processed varieties such as bacon, sausage, hot dogs and cold cuts -- and not from steak, hamburgers and other non-processed cuts.

And regardless, the sanctimonious busybodies trying to tell us what not to eat can be fruitful and multiply, only not in those exact words.