It is Black Monday for bacon lovers.
The World Health Organization said Monday that processed meats such as bacon, sausage and hot dogs cause colon cancer. The problem is that the processing techniques of curing or salting meats can cause the formation of harmful chemicals.
While bacon lovers go through the five stages of grief, they should remember that there are some healthy meat-free alternatives out there.
For those of you who love bacon, but hate cancer, why not try:
1. Seaweed.
At first glance, this appears like an odd alternative to the tasty, meat treat. But in July researchers with Oregon State University patented a strain of seaweed that tastes like bacon when you fry it. The seaweed, called Dulse, can be found at various natural product sellers.
2. Seitan bacon.
This is commonly called “vegan” bacon, so you know it doesn’t have a trace of meat. Seitan bacon is made of a combination of flour, paprika, sea salt, wheat and onions.
3 Shiitake bacon.
This involves taking thinly sliced shiitake mushrooms that then get roasted or fried.
4. Coconut bacon.
This is more an alternative to bacon bits to put on a salad or sandwich. The biggest maker of coconut bacon, called Phoney Baloney, said that its coconut bacon is made from organic coconut, oil, sea salt, organic soybeans and salt.
It is not clear if any of these alternatives would be acceptable to an American public that has loved bacon so much that there is now bacon jam, vodka and even pancakes.
You can still eat bacon and other processed meats, but may need to cut back. The World Health Organization said people who consume 50 grams of processed meat a day increases their risk of getting colon cancer by 18 percent.
A regular strip of bacon has about eight grams.
