Why can't I eat ham!?!?! page

[TOOMBS]

Hi,

I am new to being primal and just bought the e-book last night. I read the whole thing and, unless I am mistaken, it said to eliminate ham from my diet but I don't remember reading why. I am wondering if there is something in it that will make my insulin levels too high (not a sugar ham but just a regular smoked ham), or if it is the curing process and the chemicals involved?

The same question goes for sliced lunch meats.

please advise, thanks

[Misti]

Sugar, nitrates, and nitrates would be my very first guess. The sugars is processed meats are going to keep your insulin on a rollercoater, and the nitrates and nitrites (and msg, and whatever other 'yummies' they put in them) are bad news for your health.

[TOOMBS]

I didn't realize that sugar was added to smoked hams. I realize that nitrates are bad but I am really just concerned with keeping insulin low at this initial jumping off point.

thanks for the input

[youmustvotenato]

I don't think the sugars are very significant, nor are the nitrates.

But then again, when I hit a plateau and I stopped eating things with "hidden" corn syrup and nitrates I started losing weight again. Coincidence?

[Misti]

I'm thinking it probably isn't a coincidence, youmustvotenato.

Sugar is a required part of the processing of many meats - -I have to use it when I corn our beef, too. The catch is that it generally isn't the higher quality, nourishing sugars they use in commercail processing. That's why I corn our beef and am working on a smoker so I can make our own hams.

[TOOMBS]

Gah! I have one in the oven now.... Ham is like my favorite

[youmustvotenato]

Gah! I have one in the oven now.... Ham is like my favorite

Enjoy your ham, then go read up on the effects of nitrites/nitrates/etc. I found it easier to drop foods after reading about the effects. If your body drops weight afterwards, then it may be the issue.

[Jena]

I have a slice of ham at work every now and then. I work at a Cracker Barrel and our ham is yummy! I try not to that often though.

[Misti]

I love ham, too -- but we save it for special occasions, and starting next time, we'll be turning a pork roast into a ham at home to see if we can make an acceptable compromise.

[PaleoPanda]

Is nitrite free ham not acceptable?