First, they came for our salt, and we didn’t want high blood pressure, so we learned to cope.
Next, they came for our butter, and we didn’t want clogged arteries, so we slathered on margarine and tried to convince ourselves it still tasted good. Then we heard about trans fats, and they took our margarine, too.
Now, they’ve come for our bacon, and that’s where we draw the line.
In our latest poll at HeraldNet.com, we asked for your response to the World Health Organization proclaiming that bacon and other red meats increase your risk of colorectal cancer.
Only 7 percent said they’re cutting red meat out of their diet or already have been going without it. Everyone else is pretty sure those 7 percenters don’t know what they’re missing.
A defiant 35 percent answered “I don’t care. Bacon tastes too good,” which is just the kind of honest response your doctor will appreciate but never, ever get.
The remaining 58 percent said “red meat is still OK in moderation,” which of course depends on how you define “moderation.” If you have sausage for breakfast and steak for dinner, doctors won’t be too impressed that you went without bacon on your cheeseburger at lunch.
Two slices of bacon a day sounds like moderation, but if you eat it at that rate, the WHO says you’re taking a significantly higher risk. True moderation might leave you with nothing but bacon bits for your salad, a pitiful existence indeed.
We’ve often changed our ways as science discovered what’s good for us. We’ve stopped smoking, turned down that extra scoop of ice cream with our pie, gotten gym memberships and sometimes even put those memberships to use. It’s a stiff price, but we pay it for good health and long lives.
But bacon? You’ll have to pry it from our cold, dead hands.
— Doug Parry, @parryracer
For our next poll, would you care for a little wager?
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