Bacon makes me gain a pound :9
 

Bacon makes me gain a pound. Even 4 slices in an otherwise not to fattening meal (like a couple of eggs).

The next day I always weigh about a pound heavier, and the day after that it comes off again. I suspect the salt makes me hold water, but I don't know for sure - it's a guess.

Anybody know why?

Anybody else affected this way?

The bummer is that I could eat bacon every day if it didn't do that to me. ;)

Bob

n = 1

I note it ( cause and effect connections ) and realize that knowledge is power. Just being able to make the connection leaves you ahead of the game.

:)

I'd guess the salt, especially if you don't eat much other salty food.

You could try an experiment: get your hands on some plain pork belly, which isn't nearly as salty, and see how it affects you. :idea: (Side note: it's difficult to find here, and quite expensive compared to plain ol' bacon.)

I'm in the salt holding water camp. Kristine's recommendation for testing this hypothesis is excellent. My n=1 with bacon is different.

I suspect it's salt as well. However, dairy causes me to hold on to 3 or even 4 pounds. That has to be inflammation, so I guess it's possible you're dealing with inflammation too. Have you tried the nitrate free bacon to see if it makes a difference?

I'm mainly in agreement with the above. But grab the package and read the label. Most bacon has sugar in it, some more than others. Actually, I'm not even sure you can get sugar-free bacon. But finding one with just a tiny amount can make a difference. Though I wouldn't think that, say, an extra 4 carbs would make you gain a pound overnight. That sounds more like salt.

Bacon makes me loose weight. Maybe check your Potassium intake, you might need to supplement, that's the trick, you have to balance enough Pot with the salt.

I buy sodium-reduced bacon whenever I can. For some reason, it usually has less or even NO sugar added. Of course the trade-off is that it tends to spoil more quickly once the package is opened. Solution is to cook the whole package at once, then freeze portions .. they thaw quickly :idea:

Strain the bacon fat into a clean lidded jar; store in fridge. Great for frying eggs, veggies or fish - rainbow trout fried in bacon fat = :yum:. A 500g pkg of bacon (bit more than a lb) will yield almost a whole cup (200 ml) of rendered fat.

Thanks for the suggestion! I'll be reading labels. I think I'm kind of weird - I don't care for most bacon. I finally found a brand I really like, but it's a bit pricey. I always pick some up on sale.

I sometimes get fruit-flavored yogurt for my husband. After reading a lot of labels, I found out that low-fat versions often have fewer carbs.

I get no-sugar bacon, it's hard to find, but it probably has more salt.

Nobody carries pork belly or fresh side pork around here, although many years ago I could get the fresh side pork. I wasn't as aware of the weight thing then.

Since it's temporary, I don't let it bother me, but it keeps me from eating the bacon as often as my taste buds would like.

Bob

This brings me back to my organic chemistry days :lol:

The saying we learnt is "Water follows salt" I would say it is the salt content of the bacon that is causing the weight gain (water retention).

On a side note - Why can't you buy pork belly where you are? Pork belly roast with apple sauce is a weekly staple in our house.

I have access to uncured bacon with no additives including sugar at most grocery stores around N. Virginia. In the last couple years, it has gotten easier to find in these parts, and the prices are getting in line with cured premium bacon. I also have several sources for pork belly, uncured and unsweetened and organic.

I suspect pork belly is a regional thing. Not available here in New England-- I keep looking and hoping. As I love cook books, pork belly seems to be a Southern necessity. :D

I've never seen it here in regular grocery stores, only in asian or hispanic specialty stores, for some reason.

Some "flavourings" in bacon contain MSG, which in the susceptible can cause inflammation that shows up as water weight gain (from the glutamate, not just the sodium). I still have bacon occasionally and gain a pound, but don't worry now that I know it is just water, not fat. If you're trying to avoid nitrites, just be aware that "celery seed extract" is just a natural source of nitrites.