How Beef Jerky Might Affect the Risk of Mania

Scientists are learning that certain foods — either because of their natural ingredients or because of added chemicals — can have significant effects on health. One way in which food can exert this influence health is through inflammation, which is triggered by the immune system and may have an impact on the risk of developing a number of chronic conditions. Plenty of foods contribute to inflammation, from sugar to saturated fat. But in a new study, cured meats are under scrutiny. They usually contain nitrates, a group of chemicals used as a preservative to cure meats like jerky, meat sticks and hot dogs, and nitrates have also been linked to inflammation and unhealthy outcomes, including cancer and brain disorders. Dr. Robert Yolken, professor of pediatrics at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and his colleagues have been investigating how exposure to certain environmental factors, including nitrates, might affect psychiatric disorders. In a study published in Molecular Psychiatry, he and his team studied 1,101 people, some of whom had psychiatric disorders and some who did not, who had also filled out questionnaires about whether they had eaten different types of food. (The survey did not collect information on how recently the people had consumed the foods, or how much they had eaten, but Yolken says most people answered based on their recent diets.) They were asked about cured meats, as well as about raw and uncooked meats. Among people hospitalized for psy...
Source: TIME: Health - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Uncategorized Diet/Nutrition healthytime Source Type: news