Say it ain't so Sheri

Posted by Thomas Halwax 
on Apr 03, 2012
 
Grilling meat is an inherently dumb thing to do.  Here's why:  Cooking animal flesh over a hot open flame triggers a series of chemical reactions that yield a meal loaded with carcinogens.  Cancer-causing compounds known as heterocyclic amines can form, particularly when cooking animal flesh over high heat, which is common when barbecueing.  These chemicals-the same chemicals that are found in......
 
Imagefound in cigarette smoke-have been shown to cause cancer.  Here are some of the best ways to ensure you enjoy the summer BBQ season without risking consumption of cancer-causing chemicals.
  • Go Meatless (yeah, that will happen).  Evidence shows grilled vegetables do not make HCA's, (cancer chemicals).
  • Turn Down The Heat.
  • Turn the meat often.  Frequent flipping prevents the meat from reaching those high temperatures.
  • Try New Ingredients.  Cherries, prunes, apples, elderberries, pineapple, garlic, vitamin E and rosemary are some of the ingredients that significantly reduce HCA's.
  • Marinade any Meat Before Grilling.  However, avoid high sugar and especially fructose-sweetened marinades as they may triple HCA production.  The simplest marinade:  red wine, which may reduce HCA's on chicken breasts by 88 percent. 
  • Go Skinless.  Removing poultry skin cuts risk of prostate recurrence by half, so it's probably a good idea for all.
  • Choose the right side dishes.  Choose side dishes that include any of these foods:  green tea, black and rooibos (red) tea, red wine, blueberries, blackberries, red grapes, kiwi, watermelon, parsley and spinach greens. 
  • Eat Cruciferous vegetables (who?).  Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and other members of cruciferous family contain a chemical called sulforaphane that appears to neutralize HCA's cancer-causing action. 

So that's it.  I certainly learned something, especially about marinades.  The bottom line for anyone who wants to cook meat on the grill is simple; make sure to marinate all meats before cooking.  When cooking ground beef, knead in herbs and/or vitamin E.  Stick with skinless chicken.  Always accompany BBQ meat with a yogurt dish and a little alcohol, preferably stout ale.  Don't forget to grill some vegetables to accompany your meat.  doc 
Full article in June 2011 toyourhealth.com (Jacob Schor, ND)