What does nitrate free mean?
This is why many companies that don’t use synthetic nitrates or nitrites don’t claim to be “nitrate-free”—only that there are no nitrates or nitrites added, except for the naturally occurring kind. But a natural nitrate is still a nitrate. Check out the graphic below for more ways processed meat might cause cancer.
What does nitrate mean?
Definition of nitrate 1 : a salt or ester of nitric acid. 2 : sodium nitrate or potassium nitrate used as a fertilizer.
Is nitrate free really nitrate free?
“These claims are absolutely misleading for consumers,” says Sarah Sorscher of the Center for Science in the Public Interest. “The label says the product has no nitrite or nitrate added,” Sorscher says. But the reality is that “they’ve simply switched to a different source.”
Is nitrate free better?
Since even “nitrate-free” meats may still lead to health issues, it is best to limit your intake of all types of processed meats. Instead, focus on eating natural, minimally processed sources of meat.
Are nitrates good for you?
It’s thought that sodium nitrate may damage your blood vessels, making your arteries more likely to harden and narrow, leading to heart disease. Nitrates may also affect the way your body uses sugar, making you more likely to develop diabetes.
What do nitrates do to the heart?
Essentially, nitrates dilate – that is, widen or relax – the arteries and the veins not only in the heart but also elsewhere in the body. By dilating the blood vessels of the heart, nitrates can reduce the stress on the heart by improving blood flow to the heart muscle.
What is nitrate good for?
Nitrates and nitrites circulate from the digestive system into the blood, then into saliva, and back into the digestive system ( 9 ). They may be useful in keeping your body healthy, as they seem to function as antimicrobials in the digestive system. They can help to kill bacteria, such as Salmonella ( 10 , 11 ).
Where do nitrates come from?
Nitrate is a chemical found in most fertilizers, manure, and liquid waste discharged from septic tanks. Natural bacteria in soil can convert nitrogen into nitrate. Rain or irrigation water can carry nitrate down through the soil into groundwater.
How are nitrates bad for you?
What Turkey bacon is nitrate free?
Enjoy the smoky turkey bacon you love and feel good about eating it! Oscar Mayer Selects Uncured Turkey Bacon has no added nitrates or nitrites, 58% less fat that regular bacon, no artificial preservatives, and no added hormones, but all of the flavor you crave.
What do nitrates do?
Nitrates are a vasodilator. Vasodilators widen (dilate) the blood vessels, improving blood flow and allowing more oxygen-rich blood to reach the heart muscle. Nitrates also relax the veins to ease the workload on the heart when blood is returning to the heart from the arms and legs.