Bacon, along with other processed meats, can kill. This is according to a study by the American Institute for Cancer Research. It says that consuming 1.7 ounces of processed meats daily, equal to two bacon strips, can dramatically increase the prospects of colorectal cancer by 21%.
Although it is pretty much a breakfast stable and something everyone is looking forward to having on their plate, the fatty, pork belly strips aren't exactly safe for consumption. Every year, 143,00 Americans are diagnosed with colorectal cancer, with 53,000 of them dying each year. With that said, the meat product, along with its processed mates, are now classified as a Class One carcinogen - substances which are known to cause cancer. Meanwhile, all forms of red meat are classified as Class Two - substances which are likely to cause it.
However, the classification does not mean that consumers should steer clear from the product. Alongside processed meats are cigarettes and asbestos, substances which are sure to send anyone to an early grave. Though the meats are in the same group with them, it does not mean that they are equally dangerous. For example, eating more than enough bacon for a day increases your risk of cancer by a fifth, while smoking cigarettes increase it by more than 20.
There is also no known safe levels of daily processed meat consumption. However, cancer organizations have noted that consuming 50 grams of processed meat - or one small hotdog - increases the chances of colon cancer by 18%, compared to eating none.
Note that processed meats are a term encompassing various meat products such as bacon, ham, sausages, hot dogs, salami, and cold cuts. These are basically meats which are have been transformed either by curing, salting and adding chemical preservatives in order to enhance their flavor and preserve them.
