Study: Americans Eating Too Much Bacon, Not Enough Nuts

A recent study has found that the majority of Americans are eating too much fatty bacon and not enough nuts.

Whether it's peanuts, almonds, pistachios, walnuts, macadamia nuts, etc., all nuts are beneficial for your health. They are loaded in fiber, protein and unsaturated fats (the good kind). As such, they should be a regular part of your diet. 

Bacon, on the other hand, isn't exactly a healthy snack. Just last year, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced its decision to classify bacon as a carcinogenic, giving it the same cancer risk as cigarette smoking.

According to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), overeating 10 "bad" foods -- bacon, bologna, hot dogs, red meat, sugary drinks and others -- or not eating enough of 10 "good" goods -- nuts, seeds, salmon, fruits, vegetables, whole grains and others -- contributed to roughly half of all deaths in the United States from heart disease, stroke and diabetes. That's a pretty substantial amount that should serve as a wake-up call to millions of Americans.

For the study, researchers analyzed data from some 700,000 deaths that occurred in 2012 from heart disease, stroke and diabetes, based on various national health surveys that asked individuals about their health and eating habits. Not surprisingly, most respondents did not eat the recommended amount of the "good" foods, and many ate more than the recommended amount of "bad" foods; thus, increasing their risk of the three aforementioned diseases.

The study also revealed that overconsumption of salt was the biggest issue, with researchers linking it to 10% of deaths. Researchers also identified overconsumption of meats and undereating nuts, seeds and seafood as being another major problem, contributing to some 8% of deaths.

So, what should you take away from this study? Well, you should eat less bacon and more nuts.

This doesn't necessarily mean that you have to omit bacon from your diet altogether. Rather, consume it in moderation. There's nothing wrong with an occasional side of bacon to go along with your eggs and toast. As long as you don't eat in on a daily basis, it shouldn't have a noticeable impact on your diet. Besides, you can offset the negative effects of bacon by eating the right foods, such as nuts, seeds, whole grains and fish.