#Myth: Eating Grilled Food Causes Cancer
June is finally here, folks ! And you know what that means...It’s finally BBQ season! Ever wonder what it is that makes grilled food taste so delicious ?
Never mind the fun of cooking up something yummy for everyone to share in the great outdoors, but it’s the high heat from barbecues that creates a caramelization and char on grilled foods that makes everything taste oh so good. But alas, every rose has its thorns. While it is commonly known that the smoky flavour and char on a well-grilled steak is not particularly good for our health, should we be avoiding eating grilled foods altogether?
Thankfully, no! Here’s why.
1. What Makes Grilled Food Bad For You
When fat from meat drips down onto the hot coals of our BBQ stoves, the smoke that is formed contains polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), which have been shown to lead to higher rates of certain types of cancer. In fact, one study found that people who like to eat steaks ‘ very well done ’ are 60% more likely to get pancreatic cancer than those who choose to eat them rare.
2. Why You Shouldn’t Be Too Worried
The first thing to keep in mind is that the studies relating to cancer and barbecuing are largely based on an experiment in which rats were fed heavily charred food. Not only were these rats fed charred foods, but they were also given to them in large amounts — an unlikely scenario for most people.
The second thing to note is that the quantity of chemicals needed for grilled food to become carcinogenic has not yet been determined. As with most things, eating everything in moderation is key.
3. Risk Prevention
Here are 3 tips you can use to prevent some of the harmful effects of grilled food:
Don’t overdo it
The risk of creating carcinogens in your grilled foods can easily be reduced by avoiding flare ups, choosing not to eat grilled foods too often, cutting off the char, or by simply choosing not to char your foods.
Some studies recommend microwaving your meat for 30 to 90 seconds before popping it on the grill to make it less drippy. However, since that may not be the most appealing option for many people, you can also just put some tin foil under the meat to catch the liquid or use a two-zone cooking system on a charcoal grill to make sure that you're grilling it over indirect heat.
Create Balanced Meals
Eating grilled food as part of a balanced meal (i.e. eating it with a salad or other veggies) is unlikely to cause cancer. In essence, it would help to reduce the amount of grilled food you would normally eat in one sitting by simply including more non-grilled foods onto your plate.
Alternatively, you can also find other things to grill. For instance, you can make grilled veggie kebabs, grilled corn on the cob, grilled fish and even, grilled fruit!
Use Marinades
It has been shown that the carcinogens found in grilled meat can simply be reduced by dousing the meat in delicious things — i.e. to marinate it! A study found that marinating meat even for just an hour before cooking it had significantly reduced the amount of harmful chemicals released from their grilling.
The researchers attributed it to the moisture marinades add, which helps to prevent charring, therefore making the surface of the meat less susceptible to PAH-filled smoke.
So don’t be afraid to grill your food!
Most of the harmful effects of grilling food become concerning only when and if the charred food is consumed on a regular basis. Otherwise, there isn’t much to be worried about. All in all, here’s what you should keep in mind during your next barbecue:
Find ways to reduce charring — reduce the grilling time, make use of marinades and aluminum, and limit your consumption of grilled foods.
Opt for BBQ variety — encourage balanced meals by keeping it colourful and including more sides dishes!
Enjoy yourself ! — BBQs are great, not only for the tasty food, but also for fun of gatherings!
What’s your favourite BBQ recipe? Let me know in the comments down below!
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