Is BBQ a Healthy Choice - The Answer Might Surprise You

Sadly, researchers say there's still another concernformed by about 96%. Partly pre-cooking meats for 2
about the health impact of grilling any animal meats;mins in the microwave just before grilling reduces 90%
when they are cooked in the serious heat of theof the HCAs normally formed.
barbecue, substances are formed that have beenAvoid the black burn that regularly forms during grilling,
obviously proved to be cancer agents (substancessince it is very concentrated in cancer-causing
that may start the development of cancer). And thesesubstances. Other cancer causing agents of doubt
substances develop with no regard for whether lowcome from the smoke. You can limit the meat's
fat or fat rich, red meat or white meat is on the griddle.contact with smoke and decrease this risk if you raise
In a landmark report on diet and cancer risk, thethe grill a little higher from the heat and select leaner
American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) notesmeats and trim all obvious fat so it can't drip and
that as meat - red or white is cooked, naturalcause smoking. Placing food in a foil packet also stops
substances that it contains react under high heat tosmoking.
form compounds called heterocyclic amines (HCAs)The remainder of your meal can cut back the risks of
that have been linked with increased cancer risk ingrilling also. Antioxidant vitamins and phytochemicals in
some animal studies. The longer the cooking time andfruits, veggies and soy foods appear to block some of
higher the temperature, the more these carcinogenicthe damage HCAs do to cells. Studies from Oregon
substances formed.State University demonstrate that substances in tea
Studies in the Journal of the National Cancer Instituteincrease the body's capability to detox and excrete
have shown that people who frequently eat heavilyHCA before they do their damage.
browned or very well done meat are 3 to 5 timesGlance at the overall balance of your meal. AICR is
more sure to develop breast, colon and stomachrecommending that at any meal, animal protein like
cancer than those who eat it more infrequently.beef, chickens and seafood should occupy not more
Studies of rodents demonstrated that these HCAs arethan a 3rd of your plate. And that is particularly true
distributed to mammary (breast) tissue and causewhen it's grilled. By restricting your meat portion, you
changes in a cell's genetic material. We however, canrestrict your exposure to HCAs and other cancer
not conclude if this process happens in people.inducing agents. And by enjoying a healthy portion of
Does this mean that if you care about your health youfruits, veggies and whole grains, you get heaps of
should banish the grill? Not really. Researchers notecancer-fighting, health-promoting nutrient elements and
that how people barbecue has effects on the risks.phytochemicals. If you'd like to grill a number of these
For instance, marinating beef or chicken even quicklyvegetables, that is no problem, since the HCA reaction
before cooking decreases the quantity of HCAsoccurs only in foods with animal protein.