Nitrates and nitrites are preservatives that are added to certain meats to affect a desirable color and prevent the growth of poisons and bacteria. When nitrates and nitrites are exposed to heat and other conditions during the curing process, they are sometimes transformed into nitrosamines, which have been linked to cancer in a number of studies. In addition to this, nitrates and nitrites have been linked to stalling–or unexpected stops in weight loss–even when consumers are on low carb diets, such as Atkins, that specifically prescribe the consumption of meat that could potentially contain nitrates and nitrites.
In January a lot of people decide to go on a diet. This is not the only time of year that happens. A few months before summer (the bathing suit season) starts, many women decide to lose weight. There are so many diets around. It seems to me that too many of them are extreme diets: You cannot eat any carbs. You need to eat mainly protein. You can eat all the fats you want. I am afraid I do not go for any of these extreme diets. They are too radical. At first you are all excited and follow the diet. You might drop a few pounds quickly. Then the weight loss slows down and you lose your enthusiasm. Does that sound familiar? |