Doctors TV and Oz: Healthy Cured Meat Alternatives
The News reported that some research indicated that the excess salt and preservatives in cured meats might be responsible for the health risks associated with red meat, instead of a blanket bill of ‘bad for you’ for all cuts and methods of preparation. So doctors on TV, especially TheDoctorsTV docs and Dr. Oz have been telling their audiences about the health benefits of switching to buffalo (bison), turkey, ostrich, and other red meats which are better choices than hot dogs, bacon, or ham.
Cured meats contain nitrates and nitrites which many of us have pointed out for years to be undesirable and unhealthy to consume at any time. They set up the conditions in the body for cancer and other degenerative diseases to get a firm foothold in an acid environment filled with harmful chemicals. Today, the reports also suggested that the salt that is used to cure these meats poses a problem for blood pressure and other health risks.
Look…if you eat cured meats that have been prepared in the old traditional way with sea salt and spices and time; then you’ll be fine. It is the chemicals and the methods that rush the process that contribute to this problem with cured meats. However, if you don’t have vendors in your local neighborhood who carry the traditional cured meats; then it is prudent to stick with better cuts from recently butchered animals.
Martha Stewart recently put a great alternative recipe for a walnut-lentil loaf on her website and if you search for it; you can replace beef patties with these vegetarian burgers. We personally like GardenBurgers and make our own patties from whole grains and other whole foods and seasonings. We do eat grass-fed beef burgers which taste better than any regular burger you can imagine. We are associated with several reliable online companies which supply you, the consumer, with excellent grass-fed free range beef.
Once you try turkey burgers with sauteed onions, tofu sour cream, and melted cheese…you’ll want to add this burger to your weekly menu. Ostrich and other exotic meats are going to become increasingly popular as people learn to prepare them with healthy oils and fresh organic spices and herbs.
We would also recommend tempeh as an interesting alternative to meat. We sautee the tempeh burgers and season them with tamari or teriyaki sauce. We add onion and tomato along with some fresh greens from the garden. They also are nice with fresh basil leaves and garlic infused olive oil.
Be creative and experiment with nut burgers, beans, and whole grains combined to give you all your amino acids and protein. Variety is the SPICE of Life! You can also make burgers and patties with chia seed meal and oatmeal, but you might need to find a good binder like eggs to hold the patties together unless you take care when turning them in your pan with a good spatula. If you want to get fancy, grill a portabello mushroom and place your patties and burgers on that instead of a bun and drizzle tamari or balsamic vinegar over the top for a real taste treat.
You won’t miss cured meats too much when there are so many wonderful recipes that are either vegan or vegetarian or raw food…the new categories for cookbooks that are worth your time to explore and play with to find some dishes that you and your family enjoy. Visit your Whole Foods Market Deli and see what they have to offer you, so you can begin to see that the taste and texture of these alternative patties and burgers are absolutely wonderful. And while there’s no substitute for bacon…I LOVE bacon…you can find suitable alternatives that will keep your taste buds happy. There are so many sauces, dips, spreads, glazes, and dressings that have remarkable combinations of spices, herbs, and seasonings that you’ll be hard-pressed to try them all, but give it a good go!
Build a better burger with healthier ingredients and enjoy your steaks once again without guilt! Make a few kabobs and learn to roll sushi for a real change!
