Processed pork is considered bad for health primarily because it contains harmful chemicals and substances that increase the risk of chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and high blood pressure.
Harmful Chemicals in Processed Pork
Processed pork often contains nitrates and nitrites, preservatives that prolong shelf life and maintain color. These chemicals can react during cooking, especially at high temperatures, to form nitrosamines, which are carcinogenic and can damage DNA, increasing cancer risk.
Cancer Risks
Processed pork is linked with an increased risk of bowel and stomach cancers. This is partly due to the presence of haem iron, which can trigger cancer- causing compounds in the gut, and the carcinogens produced by cooking meat at high temperatures such as heterocyclic amines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
Cardiovascular and Other Health Risks
Processed pork is typically high in saturated fat and salt, contributing to high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. The salt content raises blood pressure, while saturated fats increase LDL cholesterol, promoting arterial plaque buildup.
Additional Considerations
Eating large amounts of processed pork is associated with unhealthy lifestyle factors that compound health risks, such as lower fruit and vegetable intake and smoking.
In summary, processed pork is bad for health because it contains carcinogenic chemicals, high levels of saturated fat and salt, and its consumption is linked to increased risks of cancers, heart disease, stroke, and other chronic conditions.
