Sodium Nitrates question and sodium benzoate

Leysin97

Ok so I did a quick search on this board and didn't see anything so sorry if this is a repeat. I also googled but there is conflicting info and a lot of it is several years old and I am not seeing anything recent. 

 So what is the deal with nitrates, I was out the other day at a fancy butcher shop and they were giving us free samples of salami and prosciutto and stuff. I passed because of the lunch meat listeria worry. Then the butcher said to me just to let you know since you are pregnant we are required to use nitrates by law although we use minimal amounts. So is it safe to eat in moderation or should it be avoided altogether? I read studies a few years ago think there is a link between nitrates and brain tumors but nothing definitive and like I said I did not se anything recent all from a few years ago. 

 Also why does it appear (from searching google) that sodium nitrate is bad but sodium benzoate (also a preservative found in food) is ok? Or are they both bad? The reason I ask is I are a BLT the other day without knowing this...also we just bought some expensive bacon from the farmers market. Although I am trying to minimize preservatives and stuff I do enjoy the occasional bacon so thought I would ask if any of you knew. Thanks.

Edit: format

HappyCianci

Personally, I'm limiting nitrates. There are some studies that link nitrates and miscarriage, among other problems in pregnancy. It's worth mentioning that the nitrate exposure in the studies came from drinking water, NOT cured meats. Still, I'd rather not have to think about it at all, so I have just not been eating ham/bacon/etc. since I found out.

Something I just learned: the "uncured" bacon and ham that have celery powder instead of sodium nitrite can actually contain MORE nitrates than the chemically-preserved meats. I was sad about that, because I always buy uncured bacon and ham thinking it's better. Reassessing, now...

Leysin97

@HappyCianci Yeah there are nitrates in veggies, for example celery I think I read has more nitrates than bacon...so that's also where I am also confused.

jmw222

My motto is everything in moderation.  I eat hot dogs, bacon, lunch meat, just not every week.  I'm not going to deny myself bacon. And a hot dog or two --- eh?  I do like Applegate farms when I feel like springing out the extra cash and they are nitrate free.

mer313131

I stay away from processed foods and foods treated with preservatives whenever possible. They are not healthy for you, pregnant or not. Yes, people eat them every day and are "fine", but there has to be an explanation why cancer rates are rising exponentially since the introduction of processed foods in our diet. Sure, other environmental factors weigh in, but the food I put in my body is something easy to control.

HappyCianci

Re: nitrates in vegetables (like celery): this is true, however, eating whole celery comes with vitamin C (which negates the effects of nitrates in the intestines). Vegetables also have a high water-content, so the nitrates are not very concentrated at all. This doesn't hold true when you dehydrate and concentrate celery into powder and put it into "nitrate-free" bacon. Make sense?

@mer313131, I couldn't agree more. Whole foods are always best.

mer313131

Anyone who wants to learn more about this stuff, watch the documentary "Food Inc.", read "In Defense of Food" and subscribe to the FB page and website 100 Days of Real Food. That's where I started 14 months ago. DD was starting to eat food and I was very conscious about what I put in her body, so I figured why not switch our whole family. Haven't looked back!