Eating Clean: The Benefits of Nitrate-Free & Uncured Meats
When you think about cold cuts and prepared meats, your mind might jump to heavily salted, ultra-processed products. These are usually cured with nitrates, which preserve deli meats and give them that signature pink hue.
This kind of additive nitrate, however, can pose potential health risks to you and your loved ones. Luckily, Wellshire offers uncured,healthy deli meats with no added nitrates, so you can enjoy your favorite foods while protecting your well-being.
Clean eating doesn’t have to mean giving up your favorite prepared meats—you just have to choose wholesome options from a reliable source. Learn more about nitrates and curing, the benefits of avoiding them, and which meats to choose for a nutritious, balanced diet.
What are Nitrates and Curing?
Nitrates are simple compounds composed of just two elements:
- Nitrogen
- Oxygen
They’re found in a variety of foods, from leafy greens to beets and, of course, deli meats. But not all nitrates are unhealthy—in fact, proper nitrate intake can improve your stamina and cardiovascular health.
The problem is excessive nitrate consumption, especially in the form of additive nitrate salts in processed meats. This additive nitrate cures meat (in other words, salts it to prevent bacteria growth and spoilage), which can lead to other health issues.
The Health Risks of Additive Nitrates and Cured Meats
Nitrate curing salts preserve and flavor meats, but they can also lead to higher chances of developing chronic health issues in your:
- Breasts
- Prostate
- Colorectal system
While synthetic, additive nitrates pose these potential health risks, natural nitrate sources—such as celery—are not linked to higher instances of disease or illness.
Cured meats present similar health risks, as they contain nitrate-based compounds called nitrites. These compounds are linked to disorders like methemoglobinemia—a condition that reduces your body’s ability to deliver oxygen to its tissues. The excessive salt in cured meats also raises your risk of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.
The Benefits of Avoiding Nitrates and Cured Meats
Nitrate-free, uncured meats are exactly as they sound: Natural products without added nitrates or excessive salt. While all deli meats contain some salt, uncured varieties use less and don’t rely on chemical curing agents or synthetic nitrate additives.
Alongside reducing your risks of the health conditions above, sticking to additive nitrate-free, uncured meats also helps you:
- Protect your brain as you age– Excessive dietary salt intake is linked to quicker cognitive decline versus moderate salt consumption. In fact, too much sodium can lead to a variety of impairments, including major disorders like dementia.
- Maintain your physical well-being– The excessive salt found in cured meats isn’t just an issue for your brain—it can also damage your heart, kidneys, and bones. From hypertension to osteoporosis, high sodium can lead to a host of long-term health problems.
- Live a healthier lifestyle – Picking nitrate-free, uncured meats contributes to a nourishing, nutritionally balanced diet. It’s a major step on the path to a cleaner lifestyle—and one that’s easy to take without sacrificing your favorite foods.
If you’re a bacon or cold cut connoisseur, you may find it difficult to avoid your favorite deli meats. Luckily, Wellshire offers additive nitrate-free, uncured alternatives that are just as delicious.
Wellshire’s Uncured, Nitrate-Free Delicacies
At Wellshire, we take top-quality cuts and, without the use of synthetic additives, craft fully flavored, nutritious products you and your family will love.
Uncured Bacon
All Wellshire bacon is uncured—yet each strip boasts the rich, hearty taste you’ve come to crave at the breakfast table. With no additive nitrates, our uncured bacon gets some of its signature smoky flavor from naturally occurring celery powder and the rest from our preparation process. Pork lovers can choose from a variety of tastes, including:
- Applewood Smoked Dry-Rubbed Bacon
- Black Forest Dry-Rubbed Bacon
- Fully Cooked Bacon Bits
- Classic Dry-Rubbed Bacon
- Maple Bourbon Dry-Rubbed Bacon
If pork is off the table, try Fully Cooked Chicken Bacon for a leaner substitute—or turn the flavor up a notch with turkey.
Organic Turkey Bacon
Wellshire’s turkey bacon not only leaves out the additive nitrates and curing agents—it also offers a healthier alternative to traditional pork-based bacon. That’s because turkey has less fat than pork, meaning you’ll get more protein and take in fewer calories when you fry it up.
And you won’t miss out on flavor, as Wellshire offers several different, delicious styles, including:
- Organic Classic Uncured Turkey Bacon
- Organic Sugar Free Uncured Turkey Bacon
- Classic Sliced Uncured Turkey Bacon
- Fully Cooked Uncured Turkey Bacon
Beyond bacon, Wellshire also offers a wide selection of uncured, nitrate-free ready-to-eat meats.
Deli Meats
From smoked turkey breast to corned beef and multiple varieties of Seasoned Ham, Wellshire crafts wholesome versions of your favorite deli products so you can enjoy sandwiches, salads, and more without worrying about curing or nitrates.
Enjoy Wellshire Meats for Uncured, Nitrate-Free Goodness
Nitrates and curing preserve meats while adding color and flavor. However, they also lead to higher risks of chronic illness, cardiovascular disease, and other health issues.
The good news is that healthy deli meat[2] doesn’t have to be bland. Wellshire’s uncured, nitrate-free lineup of bacon, ham, and more offers all the flavor of traditional prepared meats without the health concerns.
Pick up Wellshire products in a store near you or on Amazon to begin making clean and delicious eating choices.
Sources:
Harvard Health. Nitrates in food and medicine: What’s the story?. https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/nitrates-in-food-and-medicine-whats-the-story.
National Library of Medicine. Performance and Health Benefits of Dietary Nitrate Supplementation in Older Adults: A Systematic Review. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5707643/.
National Library of Medicine. Nitrites and nitrates from food additives and natural sources and cancer risk: results from the NutriNet-Santé cohort. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9365633/.
National Library of Medicine. Nitrites in Cured Meats, Health Risk Issues, Alternatives to Nitrites: A Review. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9654915/
National Library of Medicine. Excessive Dietary Salt Intake Exacerbates Cognitive Impairment Progression and Increases Dementia Risk in Older Adults. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36351463/. National Library of Medicine. Effects of Sodium Intake on Health and Performance in Endurance and Ultra-Endurance Sports. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8955583/.
