It’s called the “Bacon Paradox.”

And if this is the first time ever that you’ve heard of the Bacon Paradox, don’t worry.  You’re not alone.

Well, actually, I have a confession to make… The Bacon Paradox is a new term.  That I made up.  Like, two days ago.

But I digress.

The piglet has gotten a bad rap over the years:  It’ll make you fat.  It’ll give you cancer.  You’ll die of a heart attack.  You’ll grow a mutant 6th finger.

But the truth of the matter is that bacon can be good for you, and it can even help slim your waistline.  Except for a few exceptions, such as bacon-covered donuts, ‘cuz like, eww.  That shit’s nasty.

Well, unless you’re like this guy I know, who once said:

Man, you could wrap bacon on….. GRASS, and I’ll still think it’s delicious

In which case, bacon-covered donuts might be right up your alley.

There is a really great article written by Kaayla T. Daniel on Mercola.com about whether bacon is safe to eat.  You can read it here.

For the Cliff’s Notes version, the article says:

1. Bacon is yummmmeeeeeeee.  (Well, duh.)
2. Contrary to popular belief, bacon fat is 50% monunsaturated (the same kind as olive oil), and has antioxidants that are more powerful than vitamin E.
3. Bacon from pastured pigs that forage in the sun is also a good source of vitamin D.
4. Bacon is high in saturated fat and cholesterol, but that doesn’t matter because there’s nothing wrong with saturated fat and cholesterol.  (This is a whole other article – but lemme assure you that there is a growing network of professionals who refute any connections of saturated fat and cholesterol intake to heart disease and stroke.  If you’re really keen to learn more, go buy “The Cholesterol Myths” by Uffe Ravnskoff.)
5. Bacon’s high-fat content keeps you satisfied and levels out your blood sugar, which will keep you from eating that donut later on, which will help you lose weight.
6. Sodium nitrite – a traditional curing salt for bacon, as well as a growing health concern – might not be such a bad thing, afterall.  The key is in the preparation method, that determines whether the nitrites convert to the healthy nitric oxide, and not to nitrosamines, which are carcinogenic.
7. Many “nitrite-free” bacon companies use celery salt, which still contain nitrites, and can oftentimes create more nitrites than normal bacon cured with sodium nitrite!
8. There is a BIG difference in the qualities of bacon out there, so read the label!  Look for bacon from pastured pigs, and for bacon that has been prepared and cured the traditional way, instead of bacon injected with curing accelerators, sprayed with smoke-flavoured liquids, and slathered with other chemicals and preservatives.  Blegh.

So there you have it.  Bacon might actually be good for you.  Yay!

But before you go out and start hoarding the shelves at the supermarket bacon department, you need to know some critical information on how to be bacon-smart when it comes to your waistline:

Never mix high-fat with starchy-carbohydrates

This is a big one, so listen up!

Food is divided into three main categories: proteins, fats, and carbohydrates.  Carbohydrates can be further broken down into two categories:  starchy (high) carbohydrates and non-starchy (low) carbohydrates.

1. Proteins:  animal meats
2. Fats:  oils, fats, seeds, nuts, avocados, and some animal meats
3. High carbohydrates:  root vegetables (carrots, beets, potatoes, yams), fruits, and all grains
4. Low carbohydrates:  all other vegetables

This is clearly an oversimplified list, and there are some gray areas that I did not cover, but this’ll at least give you a starting point.

Whenever you eat food, there is a hormonal response in your body that’ll trigger the body to burn it, or to store it.

And guess what?  The most lethal fat-storing response is triggered by foods that are a combination of high-carb and high-fat.

The lowest?  Foods that are high-protein and high-fat.  Plus, it’ll leave you full and satisfied for hours, banishing cravings and hunger.

Bacon ‘n eggs with a side of guacamole and cheese?  YES!  YES!  YES!!

Bacon-covered donuts?  BACK OFF, sister!

Well, that’s the cardinal rule: never mix high-fat and high-carb foods together, and you’ll be leaving all your friends wondering how on earth you can still fit in those short-shorts.  And whaddya know, it can actually be good for you, too.  Bonus!

So go out and have some bacon on me.  Guilt-free.  And enjoy!

In health and high heels,

Mina

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