Why Bacon Is Also Good for You

by Kim D.

The World Health Organization [WHO] has caused quite the controversy in regard to pork products and processed meats. According to WHO, these food products cause cancer and the organization has likened eating pork delicacies to smoking cigarettes.

@RogerStapp Was that filtered or unfiltered bacon they were smoking? @JBaileysMom

— Ecklebob Chiselfritz (@RotNScoundrel) October 27, 2015

Hmmm . . . that's a good point and so are these:

@NewDay @WHO the sun gives you cancer too. I haven't moved underground and I haven't given up bacon either.

— Ambassador of Bacon (@bacon_guru) October 27, 2015

Everyone who eats bacon will die. Also, kale. #EasyChoices

— Church Curmudgeon (@ChrchCurmudgeon) October 27, 2015

My grandmother ate bacon crumbled up in grits almost every morning of her very long, 96-year life. She was a bitter clinger and fryer of bacon and never suffered for her dietary choice. However, to be fair, she probably didn't have family history with colon cancer. If people do, they need to up the screenings because they have a greater chance of contracting the disease whether they eat bacon or not.


Eating a pound of bacon every day wouldn't be good for anyone but eliminating it completely from the diet seems like a step too far. When it comes to issues like this, I always refer back to the famous words of Ben Franklin who advocated for "moderation in all things." He also declared that "Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." I'm pretty sure Ben would also approve of bacon consumption in moderation.

According to the blog Bacon Is Magic, bacon has had a bad rep for years but, surprisingly, bacon does have nutritional value. 

#1 - Bacon has healthy nutrients:

Bacon contains thiamin, vitamin B12, zinc and selenium, which are all vital nutrients the body does not naturally produce.

#2 - Bacon has no trans fats:

Bacon does contain fat, but the amount is exaggerated. A single serving of bacon has less fat than many consumers assume. According to Boss Hog on the website BaconToday.com, bacon has less fat and cholesterol than many popular cuts of beef and chicken.

#3 - Bacon is a mood enhancer: 

The meat is surprisingly nutritious and good for mental health. Bacon is a natural mood enhancer that helps encourage positive mental states.

#4 - Bacon is heart healthy:

A surprising fact is that bacon is healthy for the heart. Bacon contains omega-3 fatty acids, which are the same nutrients found in fish. The healthy benefits of omega fatty acids are the reduced cholesterol and improved overall health in the heart.

#5 - Bacon has choline which is good for the brain: 

A diet that contains choline on a regular basis will show reduced rates of memory loss over time. It is used in treatment for mental impairments, including Alzheimer’s Disease and similar dementia diseases. Studies have shown that choline improves memory, intelligence testing and reduces the speed of damage to the brain from dementia.

So before we go off the deep end and modify all of our recipes to eliminate bacon, let's pause and take a deep breath. Bacon might not be the healthiest food choice, but it certainly isn't the worst, ranking somewhere between butter and soda.