I haven't the slightest clue why I didn't reply to this thread earlier, as I had caught it flowing through the active pages when it was a younger thread. I am now sensing some dejavu for some odd reason...you know, like I've already written about this somewhere, maybe here, but I'm not sure? Maybe on another similar thread?
Anyway, keeping as simple and to the point as I know how, the most significant health issues I can think of related to cooking methods for meats or other foods are:
1) meat drippings/juices which contact a hot enough surface to cause burning or smoking of those drippings...very bad for you;
2) adding fats in order to cook the food...relatively bad for you, depending on the type of fat used;
3) (this is from a study I found a link to and read here in a thread awhile back, not sure where it is now) cooking the meat to an internal temperature of 170* or greater;
The most common sources I can think of for the above mentioned issues are:
1) frying, or grilling the food over an open flame or other high heat source such as electric grills, or, charcoal/propane/gas fired grilling, or in the case of fast food burger joints flame broiling/griddle frying;
2) stir-frying with a wok, pan frying or deep fat frying;
3) cooking any meats to well-done or above (pulled pork/beef/chicken).
As you can see, there are many other methods of cooking other than the low & slow as employed with smoking which are much less healthy ways to bring food to the table. We are a family who truly enjoys outdoor cooked foods, and my guess is that a very high majority of the members of SMF, and their families alike, are in the same rankings. We eat a pretty well balanced mix of smoked, grilled, fried, roasted, and baked foods. This doesn't happen by plan, it's just how things work out. I cook a few meals when I'm on days off, smoked or grilled...my daughters cook a few meals each week, being fried, roasted or baked...my wife cooks with the same methods as my daughters, but there's always a mix of something different every day. Here again, I'm sure the majority of others here do the same. That's the key to life in general, IMO: everything in moderation, and I do mean
everything.
The amounts of carcinogens contained in the smoke (when proper use of the smoker is utilized) which we use to flavor our foods, well, it's pretty negligible quantities. If you want to see some nasty stuff that can put you into a hurt bag, just buy processed and packaged foods, and eat nothing but that for a couple years. Anyone game for that challenge? Any takers?
I look at it different. First I follow the food code to stay safe.
But with regard to the diet liers whom want to stop people from eating good food. It changes depending on what the fad is they are trying to get the money to study, and even if they are correct.......
What do you get?
Asumming you are half way healthy with good life genes you get an average extra time on earth of 1.7 years. NOW...
The 1.7 years is not as a child playing baseball and fishin'
It is not as a teenage skinny dipping with the neighbor girl in the creek
Not as a young adult trying to rule the world
Not as a young parent enjoying raising your children
Not as an older parent watching you kids become successful adults
Not as a grand parent watching the next generation come up
Not as a elderly couple traveling together to see and explore things with the kids raised and grand children doing well
NO NOT ANY OF THOSE YEARS......
You get 1.7 years of extra time wearing adult diapers not knowing who you are or why you are in this hospital type place...
Thank you just the same..... I will just eat what I want (in moderation) and check out of this big round blue hotel on time!
Very intereresting observation and analogy. You put this into a perspective which I find very easy to see. It's a refreshing look, for sure.
Smoke on, I say!
Eric