Why Eating Smoked Meats May be Harmful

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CLEVELAND - Smoked meats are tasty, but they may also carry some health risks.

It turns out the process of creating that smokey flavor can be harmful.

“When we’re preparing smoked meats, the smoke itself is one of the things that can create carcinogens,” explained Beth Czerwony, RD, a registered dietitian for Cleveland Clinic.

Czerwony said the process of smoking and cooking meat at high temperatures can produce harmful chemicals.

These chemicals have been found to cause changes in our DNA, which may increase cancer risk.

But if you still want to break out the smoker, try sticking with white meat as it’s an overall healthier choice than red meat.

You also want to avoid charring what you cook since it can create even more carcinogens.

Overall, Czerwony said it’s best to view eating smoked meat as more of a treat.

“It comes down to everything in moderation,” Czerwony said. “It’s also important to know the risks and keep in mind there are ways to try and make the process of smoking meat less harmful.”

Czerwony added you can test out different seasonings to achieve a similar flavor without actually smoking the meat.