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Sweet corn on the cob, tomatoes from the garden, steak sizzling on the grill—could there be a more perfect cookout? Yes, but only if you know the healthiest ways to indulge your taste for barbecue.
You may have heard about the suspected links between grilled meat and cancer. In fact, grilling meat, chicken, and fish—especially if it’s charred—produces suspected cancer-causing chemicals known as heterocyclic amines (HCAs). Animal fat dripping onto hot coals creates another worry: potential cancer-promoting chemicals called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).
Though it sounds scary, you don’t have to go completely flame-free. The good news is that there are ways to minimize the health hazards linked to grilling and still enjoy your barbecue. Try these tips to make healthful substitutions.
Sources: NIH National Cancer Institute. Chemicals... + 8
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