Are Nitrates The Cigarette For Our Buttholes?

Are Nitrates The Cigarette For Our Buttholes?

From Nutrition For Mortals by Nutrition For Mortals

May 13, 2026 · 46 min

About this episode

The episode explores the connection between nitrate-cured processed meats and colon cancer, discussing the implications of consuming these foods.

Across headlines, documentaries, and social media posts, nitrate-cured processed meats are often talked about with the same language once used for cigarettes. Bacon, hot dogs, deli turkey, pepperoni—foods many people grew up eating—are now linked in people’s minds with colon cancer and claims that nitrates are “poisoning” us. Meanwhile, Americans consume billions and billions of dollars of processed meat each year. So what gives? How should we think about nitrates and processed meats? And are “uncured” meats really safer? Join us, two registered dietitians, as we explore what the research actually says about the connection between processed meats and cancer risk. Want to support the show and get bonus episodes? Join our Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/nutritionformortals Leave us a voicemail that may be featured on a future episode! Call us at (562)-N4M-POD1 (562-646-7631) . We’ve got MERCH! Check it out HERE Don’t want to miss any episodes in the future? Make sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts! Things we talked about and additional reading: Trends in meat consumption in the United States 1980 NYT: U.S. Will Not Seek to Ban Nitrite From Foods as a Cause of Cancer…

People in this episode

Host: two registered dietitians

Topics covered

  • processed meats
  • nitrates
  • colon cancer
  • dietary risks
  • health research

Keywords

  • nitrates
  • processed meats
  • colon cancer
  • dietitians
  • health risks

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Patreon, IARC

Books & works: N-nitrosamines in processed meats: exposure, formation and mitigation, IARC Monographs Volume 114 Agents classified by the IARC Monographs, Carcinogenicity of consumption of red and processed meat

More episodes of Nutrition For Mortals

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Nutrition For Mortals podcast page.