There is no question that everyone enjoys a good grilled or
smoked meal from time to time. There’s no comparison when it comes to the
distinct flavor a pellet grill can bring to your steaks, burgers, and roasts.Are the best pellet grills 2018 healthy as a grilling option? While the results of
preparing your meals in this way are undoubtedly tasty, a handful of studies
have been published in recent years that suggest a link between consuming
grilled or smoked meat and an increased risk of developing certain kinds of
cancer, pancreatic being on top of the list. While there’s truth to the risks to one’s health that is
associated with eating grilled meat on a regular basis, steps can be taken to
greatly reduce the risk of cancer and still be able to thoroughly and
carelessly enjoy a grilled meal now and then.
How Exactly Do
Grilling And Smoking Cause Cancer?
The first logical question we should ask is what exactly
happens during the grilling or smoking process that increases the adverse
effects meat prepared in these ways has on our health.
Since pellet grills are convenient and versatile in that
they act as smokers as well, a distinction needs to be pointed out between the
two processes. As cooking meat by grilling is different than doing so with
smoke, so are the potential health hazards that result from these practices.
When Grilling Your
Meat
When grilling, the main culprit responsible for an increased
cancer risk is animal fat. That means when the fat hits the fire and starts
burning, a handful of harmful chemicals known as heterocyclic amine, or HCAs,
are formed. These are then released into the air and permeate the meat above
the fire, becoming lodged inside. Studies conducted on animals show that
consuming these chemicals increases the chance of getting cancer.
The best way to avoid this is by avoiding flare-ups and
over-charring your meat. Over charred meat not only taste bad, it is unhealthy
and can be even more hazardous to your grill master reputation.
Reducing The Effect
Of Carcinogens While Using A Pellet Grill
While this might all sound like scary stuff, in theory, the
truth of the matter is that these chemicals don’t pose much of a threat, if
you’re exposed to them in small amounts. Enjoying a grilled burger once in a
while will probably not increase the likelihood of cancer developing at all.
Still, for the health conscious, as for those who can’t live without regular
grill use, there are a number of steps that can be taken to reduce the meat’s
exposure to carcinogens while sacrificing almost nothing in terms of taste and
flavor.
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