Remember When We Were Told To Avoid Nitrates And Nitrites?

[tex]

Hi All,

It seems that for many decades, we've been told by the "experts", how harmful all those nitrates and nitrites in processed meats, are to our health. Well forget all that - now they're good for us, because they lower diastolic blood pressure, if we eat enough of them, so therefore, they're good for our heart health. Yesterday, they caused cancer, and a life threatening blood problem, known as methemoglobinemia. I guess we can forget all that now, though, because today, they are healthy for our heart.

http://www.foodnavigator.com/Science-Nu ... alth-Study

Yep, in the continuing recent tradition of "what used to be bad for us, is now good for us", another dietary no-no has fallen by the wayside. In view of this new evidence, clearly, it's time to pig out on preservatives.

I don't know whether to take this research seriously, or not, as far as benefits to blood pressure are concerned, but in regard to intestinal inflammation, researchers can't seem to decide whether nitric oxide causes inflammation, suppresses inflammation, or is a result of inflammation. In various situations, all three relationships seem to be possible, so what is actually going on, is anyone's guess.

Tex

[mbeezie]

Tex,

I'm assuming the benefit comes from vegetable sources of nitrate, lik spinach and eggplant etc. I'm going to have a hard time believing that processed deli meats are the route to health I always buy nitrite free meats for my son. Hormel now has a great line of bacon, ham, turkey etc. I freeze the lunch meat in small quantities and use it as needed for his lunches.

Mary Beth

[tex]

Mary Beth,

Well, it's true that most nitrates, (and some of the nitrites), come from vegetables, but when I read the article, I get the impression that the researchers consider any source to be valid, including the nitrites in processed meats. Also, remember that when the body utilizes the nitrates found in vegetables, the conversion process goes like this: Nitrate is converted to nitrite, and then to nitric oxide. Is that any different than eating the nitrites directly?

This quote, (from that article), is rather salient, (the red emphasis is mine, of course):

However, an increasing number of studies are reporting the potential benefits of nitrates and nitrites. A recent study from researchers at Michigan State University went as far as to suggest that the compounds may actually be nutritious (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, doi:10.3945/ajcn.2008.27131).

Note that the reference includes both nitrates and nitrites. Nutritious?

It's not easy for me to wrap my head around that claim, either. LOL.

Tex

[annie oakley]

Aren't Nitrates what they put on dried fruits? I have a severe allergy to anything sulphur. The last time I ate dried fruit my face swelled and I itched for day. Oma