“Bacon has nitrates and Causes Cancer!” Really?? Let’s slow down and look at the numbers & facts. Typical nitrate content per 100 grams: Bacon, cured: about 1 to 10 mg Spinach: about 50 to 250 mg Arugula: about 100 to 700 mg Beetroot: about 100 to 300 mg Celery: about 50 to 250 mg Lettuce: about 100 to 500 mg Radishes: about 50 to 200 mg So most leafy greens contain ten to 100x more nitrate by weight than bacon. Nobody panics about celery! Now here’s the important part... Your body is built to handle nitrate. In fact, it uses it. Your salivary glands pull nitrate out of your blood and concentrate it in your saliva. Bacteria on your tongue convert it to nitrite. From there, your body produces nitric oxide. Nitric oxide helps relax blood vessels. It helps lower blood pressure. It plays a role in immune signaling. It improves blood flow. You are not accidentally “exposed” to nitrate. You are actively recycling it every day. Bacon is a Health Food.