Is Charcoal Grilling Bad For You


Grilling is one of the tastiest methods for cooking meats and vegetables. Something about the

smoky taste that comes from cooking over charcoal briquettes just makes the food so delicious. But just because it tastes good doesn't mean it's good for you. Have you ever wondered is charcoal grilling bad for you. Truth is, you could be harming your body with every bite, and here's how.

Before the meat even touches the grill you have to get the bricks lit. When charcoal is burned, it produces hydrocarbons as well as little particles of soot that float through the air, making it an air pollutant. While you're standing there dutifully watching your meat as it chars on the grill, you're also inhaling those soot particles, which makes you susceptible to lung irritation as well as heart ailments.

Fat that drips down from the meat lands on the charcoal forming two potentially dangerous chemical compounds: heterocyclic amines (HCAs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). These two compounds rise along with the smoke and get deposited directly onto the meat, which in turn you eat, exposing your body to HCAs and PAHs. High amounts of these chemicals in the body have been linked to a variety of cancers, including colorectal, pancreatic, and breast cancer.

The other issue is that charcoal in both lump and briquette form is made up of a variety of items to enhance the smoky, woodsy flavor. Obviously wood is a component, which has an ecological impact as it means cutting down trees to make charcoal. And while the majority of briquettes are made of sawdust, some also include sodium nitrate, limestone, coal dust, and borax. Wondering what borax is. It has a variety of uses, including but not limited to being a food preservative, a cleaning agent, and a flux for soldering precious metal.

Enjoying charcoal-grilled food is fine on a few occasions, but you do need to make sure you limit your exposure to its effects. Many people have made a switch to gas grills, and while they don't give the exact same flavor as charcoal, they are a healthier and more environmentally friendly option. And with the expanding "green" market that brings awareness to environmental issues, there are a few natural charcoal manufacturers out there. Using natural briquettes can significantly reduce your exposure to the harmful PAHs and HCAs, but it is still recommended that you don't stay in the cooking area any longer than necessary and keep out of the smoke. Your heart and lungs will thank you for it.


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