How to Understand If Turkey Bacon Is Healthy

Turkey bacon is often chosen as a healthier alternative to regular bacon, which is made from pork. In general, poultry is leaner than pork, which is why dieters often opt for turkey instead of pork. But there are important considerations to make when determining if turkey bacon is healthy.

Instructions

1

Identify your individual dietary and nutritional needs. What is healthy for one person may not be healthy for the next. Specifically, note if a doctor or other health professional has recommended a diet low in fat, saturated fat, carbohydrates, cholesterol, sodium or calories.

2

Consider the calorie, fat, saturated fat, carbohydrate, cholesterol and sodium content in a serving of turkey bacon. Different brands have varying amounts of these contents. Some brands of turkey bacon contain as much as 50 calories, 5 g of fat, with 2 g of saturated fat, 20 mg of cholesterol and 220 mg of sodium. Turkey bacon may not have any carbohydrates, unless caramelized or flavored with ingredients such as maple syrup. Determine if these nutritional amounts meet your dietary needs.

3

Compare the nutritional content of turkey bacon to the nutritional content of regular bacon, if you want to determine if turkey bacon is a healthy alternative to bacon. Consider the content per gram, rather than per serving as serving sizes can vary.

4

Consider the other ingredients in turkey bacon, if you are concerned about the chemicals involved in processing or preserving the meats. For instance, determine if nitrites and nitrates added to the turkey bacon. Nitrites and nitrates, which are often added to meats to preserve them, are metabolized by the body to form nitrosamines, which are carcinogens.