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Andrea Kiesel • Jul 18, 2023
Summertime is Grilling Season!
My family enjoys grilling meat and veggies on the backyard bar-b-que and since we live in sunny Southern California, we can do it almost year around. But there are some risks involved in grilling meat, so it is important to respect the nuances of grilling.
Reduce Grilling Carcinogens by 99%
Background on Grilling Carcinogens
- All meats have proteins, like creatine, and sugars.
- Grilling meat at very high temperatures naturally produces molecules called heterocyclic amines (HCAs),
- HCAs are toxic compounds also found in cigarette smoke.
- Well-done meat contains 3.5 times more HCA than medium-rare meat.
- When you compare different types of meats, the highest concentration comes from bacon. The second highest is from fried pork, followed by beef and then chicken.
- Plants don’t have the combination of creatine and sugar found in meats, so grilled veggies are great.
Reduce Grilling Carcinogens: Pre-Grill
- Teriyaki marinade reduced HCAs by 67 percent.
- A turmeric-garlic sauce reduced them by 50 percent.
- The key here is to use a thin, vinegar-based sauce, sans sugar.
- Thick, concentrated commercial barbecue sauce with added sugars, can actually triple the number of HCAs in meat.
Herbs & Spices to reduce HCA
Pre-Grill Marinades: Herbs & Spices
- Basil, mint, rosemary, sage, savory, marjoram, oregano and thyme possess powerful anticancer action in grilled meats.
- Most of these herbs are rich in three compounds — carnosic acid, carnosol and rosmarinic acid — all of which are potent antioxidants
Reduce Grilling Carcinogens: Mid-Grill
- To avoid creating carcinogens, start on a medium-high temperature and flip the meat often. This will avoid charring, and that will prevent HCAs.
- If you have multiple burners in your grill, grill up each side quickly and then turn off the burner that lies directly under the meat while keeping the other burners on. That basically transitions your grill into an oven.
To Reduce HCAs
- Don’t eat char. Think about it. Char. It’s just burnt meat.
- Don’t eat it — cut it off. If you do this one simple thing, you’ll eliminate many of the HCAs that do form despite your marinade protection.
Final Thoughts on Grilling Carcinogens
Even briefly marinating foods is effective in reducing the amount of carcinogens — 92 percent to 99 percent.
As a rule, use about one-half cup of marinade for every pound of food, although large pieces may need more to cover the food’s surface adequately.
Conclusion
By going low and slow, and refusing to eat char, you’ll be able to get outside, grill and add flavor to your barbecue without compromising your health.
Because of the way food is farmed and processed our bodies have a difficult time fully digesting
Too Much Iron, Not Enough Copper
I love homeopathy and believe it’s the most magical medicine on the planet. I’ve had experiences with homeopathy that I can only describe as miraculous. Like the time I had a splitting headache, lying on my bed for four hours with ice packs on my head, when my husband came into the bedroom and asked me what I would tell a client if they came to me with the same symptoms. He brought in my little homeopathic guidebook and I found a remedy that matched my symptoms. Within 10 minutes I was pain-free and making dinner. Don’t believe it when you’re told there’s nothing to homeopathy–it is powerful, safe, non-toxic, non-habit forming, and effective medicine for all ages! Here are a few of the remedies that I keep on hand, for common accidents and incidents that we use in our daily lives. You can pick them up at your local health food store or online through my Fullscript dispensary . I recommend homeopathy to everyone and hope you’ll take some time to learn its wonders! Ac onitum Napellus – I use this at the first sign of even a twinge of a sore throat - especially if I have been outside in a cold wind. You can use it for children who have a croupy cough. One or two doses of Aconitum and they will be back to sleep. It can also be used for a shock or fright – like when the burglar alarm goes off in the middle of the night! A rnica Montana – Almost without exception, when someone in our family has any kind of an accident or injury, I turn to Arnica. It’s in my purse. When my husband would get a bump or bruise in any of the many gardening and construction projects around the house, a couple of doses of Arnica worked miraculously. This is the remedy I used in a 200C dilution for my splitting headache (above). Cantharis Vesicatoria – This remedy is used for skin burns, whether it’s taking a pan out of the oven or getting too close to the barbecue, Cantharis is my go-to. Take a couple of doses ASAP and almost never get a blister nor get the burning pain that usually accompanies a burn. The body just starts healing and it does so quickly. It also helps if you’ve stayed out in the sun a little too long as well. Ig natia Amara – Life is not always a bed of roses. Our beloved pets pass on, we have arguments with loved-ones, we don’t make the team, or get the job we wanted. When those moments occur and we’re feeling weepy and sad, we take Ignatia. It’s also really useful if we’ve been sighing a lot. Arsenicu m Album – We love to travel and sometimes new and strange foods make our tummies unhappy. Last time I was on a business trip to Mexico, I stayed at a fancy resort, but still got “Traveler’s Diarrhea”. Good thing I had the Arsenicum with me! Don’t leave home without it! Nux V omica – This one has a permanent place in my purse. I use it anytime I’m feeling nauseous from low blood sugar or from something I ate that didn’t sit well with me. It can be used for vomiting from the flu or other illness. One or two doses and the body will settle down.
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