Is Barbecued Food Bad for You?

The positive side of barbecued foods

• Grilling food is a low-fat cooking method, good for folks who are trying to eat less fat.

• The grill is often a quick method to prepare a delicious meal for the family.

• The entire meal can be cooked on the grill, cutting down on dishes to be washed.

The negatives associated with barbecued foods

• Recent research indicates that more potential carcinogens (substances that can cause cancer) are present in grilled foods.

• Fat that drips onto the flames creates smoke that contains polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons -- chemicals in smoke that are potential carcinogens.

• The blackened parts of meat may also contain carcinogens.

How to grill your food and maintain your health

Just because a food contains substances that may cause cancer doesn't mean that everyone who has ever eaten grilled foods will develop cancer as a direct result of that meal. However, it is prudent to reduce exposure to carcinogens as much as possible. If you love to grill, follow these steps for delicious meals that won't hurt your health:

• Microwave your foods first to reduce grilling time.

• Use low or medium heat on the grill, and try to avoid flames that shoot up to char the meat.

• Use lean cuts of meat so less fat drips onto the coals.

• Don't eat the blackened parts of meat.

• Add glazes, sauces or marinades only during the last few minutes on the grill; the sugar in the sauce causes more flare-ups and increased smoke.

• Finally, make sure all your grilled food is thoroughly cooked to avoid any risk of food poisoning