Eating bacon may extend your life

Thursday, December 5, 2013

We're accustomed to hearing all about how eating bacon and other fatty, salty foods clogs your arteries and makes you unhealthy. However, new research from ETH Zurich suggests that niacin (found in high concentrations in bacon, sun-dried tomatoes, paprika and peanuts) could help you live longer.

Geekosystem reports that in Prof. Michael Ristow's study, roundworms fed with niacin and its metabolite nicotinamide lived one-tenth longer than usual. This could be because niacin and nicotinamide promote the formation of reactive oxygen species, also known as free radicals.

Like bacon, free radicals are generally considered to be unhealthy. But Ristow says the oxidative stress they trigger actually promotes health: "Cells can cope well with oxidative stress and neutralize it." Moreover, niacin is an "exercise mimetic," which "tricks the body into believing that it is exercising – even when this is not the case."

Niacin, also known as vitamin B3, helps process fat and regulate blood sugar levels. One hundred grams of bacon contains 11.6 milligrams of niacin (that's 0.93 milligrams per slice).

Healthaliciousness.com warns that even a slight niacin deficiency can cause irritability, depression, poor concentration and fatigue. Wouldn't want that to happen.

Please pass the bacon! BP