Calories in Canadian Bacon

Cured pork is commonly recognized as bacon. The fat content and calories in bacon vary, depending upon the type of cut used to prepare the bacon. For example, the side cut is high in meat and low in fat than the belly cut. Bacon can be made from pork belly which is quite fatty. Traditional American way of enjoying bacon involves, eating bacon strips made from the belly portion, while in Canada bacon is often made from pork loin which is very lean. Canadian bacon is also known as back bacon. Let us first take a look at some popular types of bacon.

Types of Bacon

American Style Bacon: Initially, pork belly is cured in a brine for at least three days. The brine consists sugar, salt, pepper and various other spices. Then the pork is cold smoked. Bacon is made available in the form of juicy strips, slices, etc. The strips can be 0.031 to 0.111" thick.

Irish bacon: It is also a smoke-cured bacon. It looks like a boneless pork loin roast. Irish bacon is prepared from the lean meat derived from the 'eye part' from a piece of pork loin. You can slice it to any desired thickness.

Canadian bacon: It is made from the pork loin. It is low in fat and calories when compared to American-style bacon.

Apart from these popular types, there exist several other types of bacon like Italian-style bacon (Pancetta), slab bacon, boiling bacon, etc. Cooking in a oven or microwave or deep frying are the popular ways of preparing bacon.

Canadian Bacon Nutrition Facts

6 oz or 170 g of Canadian-style bacon (unheated)
Nutrient Quantity Calories 267 Calories from fat 107 Calories from protein 150 Calories from carbohydrates 10.2 Total carbohydrate 2.9 g Saturated fat 3.8 g Monounsaturated fat 5.4 g Polyunsaturated fat 1.1 g Total fat 11.9 g Cholesterol 85.0 mg Sodium 2395 mg Protein 35.1 g Riboflavin 0.3 mg Vitamin B6 0.7 mg Vitamin E 0.4 mg Vitamin B12 1.1 mcg Niacin 10.6 mg Folate 6.8 mcg		Nutrient Quantity Copper 0.1 mg Betaine 3.2 mg Thiamin 1.3 mg Pantothenic acid 0.9 mg Calcium 13.6 mg Iron 1.2 mg Magnesium 28.9 mg Phosphorus 413 mg Potassium 585 mg Zinc 2.4 mg Manganese 0.0 mg Selenium 42.5 mcg Omega 3 fatty acids 153 mg Omega 6 fatty acids 918 mg Water 114 g Dietary Fiber 0.0 g Choline 117 mg Sugars 0.0 g

The table shows that Canadian bacon is high in protein and various vitamins and minerals, but it is also high in cholesterol and sodium. So limited use of bacon is recommended. Calories in bacon may vary according to the thickness and weight of the piece and also according to the type of bacon.

Calories in Canadian Bacon

• One slice of cured Canadian bacon contains 43 calories.
• One ounce of cooked Canadian bacon contains 52 calories.
• One oz of raw (yield after cooking) Canadian bacon contains 43 calories.
• One cubic inch of cooked Canadian bacon contains 33 calories.
• 100 g of Canadian bacon contains 185 calories.
• 3 slices (53 g) of Oscar Mayer Canadian bacon contains 60 calories.
• 1 serving (56 g) of Canadian bacon by Hormel offers 68 calories.

I hope the information on the nutrients and calories in Canadian bacon helped you decide the portion. Bacon is one of the most popular food items in the world, but some studies show that sodium nitrite, a chemical colorant present in processed bacon increases the risk of developing pancreatic cancer by at least 67%. Sodium nitrate can cause cerebral tumors, leukemia or vesica cancer. Consumption of bacon in moderation is therefore recommended by doctors and dietitians.

Prawns Vs. Shrimp

Amongst the most popular types of seafood are prawns and shrimp. Prawn and shrimp meat feature a sweet, delicate flavor and are a rich source of protein, calcium and antioxidants like selenium. The words 'prawn' and 'shrimp' are often used interchangeably in restaurants, cook books and markets. This terminology differs from nation to nation. For example, what is generally referred to as a shrimp in the US, is considered to be prawn in England. In the culinary circles, the term prawn is used to describe a large shrimp, whereas, in other circles, the term shrimp is used to describe both prawns and shrimp. Moreover, to increase complications, in some regions the term prawn is used to describe both prawns and shrimp.

Prawns and shrimp bear semblance to each other in terms of appearance and taste, however, biologically they are not the same creatures. Before heading into prawns vs. shrimp discussion, let us find out the similarities between these two, due to which they are often mistaken to be the same.

Similarities between Prawns and Shrimp

A quick look at prawn and shrimp will conduce to the idea that they are one and the same creature. In fact it's virtually impossible to differentiate between the two. Physically they look similar and also have similar flavors. These two creatures are decapod crustaceans, which means they both exhibit similar exoskeletons and feature 10 legs. The body segmentation is also the same.

They are typically found swimming in salt and freshwater sources across the globe, in search of food. Prawns and shrimp tend to dwell near the ocean floor and come in scores of sizes, from minuscule to large. Moreover, both require to shed their shells during growth stages. They are also known to be high in omega 3 fatty acids and are low in saturated fats. The high level of good fats in shrimp and prawns reduces the level of bad cholesterol in the blood.

Dissimilarities between Prawns and Shrimp

Despite the similarities, shrimp and prawns are separate species and have some distinguishing features that separates the two. Let us have a look at these slight distinguishing features.

Biological Classification
To the bare eye, the two may appear identical but they are biologically different. Prawns and shrimp belong to the same order, Decapoda, but different suborders. This itself is a major differentiating factor. Prawns belong to the suborder Dendrobranchiata, while shrimp belong to the suborder Pleocyemata.

Gill Structure
The primary visual differentiating factor between the shrimp and prawn is the gill structure. Prawns feature branching gills. On the other hand, shrimp have lamellar gills, which are plate-like in structure.

Abdominal Segments
Examination of second abdominal segment is the easiest and most practical way of differentiating between shrimp and prawns. In case of shrimp, the second segment overlaps the first and third segment, whereas, in case of prawn, the second segment only overlaps the third segment. This is an important distinguishing feature between the two.

Chelate Leg Pairs
In prawns, the first three pairs of legs are chelate or claw-like. However, in shrimp only the first two pair of legs exhibit chelation.

Other Distinguishing Features
Besides these main distinguishing factors, some other factors that differentiate the two include the front pincers of shrimp that are typically the largest. However, prawns feature bigger second pincers. Prawns also feature longer legs as compared to shrimp. Moreover, female prawns shed their eggs into the currents, wherein the eggs develop independently. Shrimp on the other hand, brood their eggs.

There are scores of varieties of shrimp and prawns that are harvested for consumption. There is the pink, brown, white, spot, royal red, etc. type of shrimp, which are not only delicious, but also unique in flavor. Prawns on the other hand, include varieties like deep water, king, banana and tiger prawns. When prepared properly both shrimp recipes as well as prawns pacify the palette.

Piranhas: Busting a Few Myths

Everyone has heard of the ferocious Piranha fish that is found predominantly in the Amazon River in South America. However unfortunately this species of fish has developed a reputation that it does not deserve. Most people regard as something that is to be feared and definitely kept away from.

There have been tales when schools of Piranhas have brutally devoured cattle that have strayed into the Amazon River. Leaving behind only the skeleton of the unfortunate bovines in a matter of seconds. There are also stories where people have dipped their fingers in the Amazon River; once they take it out they only find the bone and no flesh!! Tales such as these have accorded Piranhas the status of fearsome predators who are second to none in hunting ability. Most people regard a school of Piranha to be deadlier than the Great White Shark. These tales have no scientific bearing whatsoever and they remain just that: Tall Tales. But unfortunately academicians and scientists have not done much to shatter these myths. One of the reasons may be that humans do not hunt and kill Piranhas in large numbers. The only threat that they seem to face is loss of habitat. It has also not been conclusively proved that they are huge contributors to the River ecosystem.

Scientifically called "Serrasalmus nattereri", the Piranha can be as small as 1.5 inches and as large as 18 inches. Similarly its color also varies from silver to orange. The life span of the Piranha is unknown, but they probably live for several years. Piranhas feed on worms and insects found in the river, however they also eat small fish once they become adults. Piranhas also have the propensity to feed on carcasses of animals that lie on riverbeds. This tendency has contributed most to their ferocious reputation. Piranhas in captivity have generally been afraid of the human presence but there have been instances when people have put their hands in tanks containing Piranhas and have got bitten. This could be attributed to the fact that the fish were under fed in the first place.

There have been intermittent reports of attacks on bathers in Brazil. This may have been caused by the damming of rivers. Dams slow the flow of rivers, and may cause an increase in piranha numbers because the fish favor gentle stretches of water for breeding. Most of the attacks seem to happen on the Rio Mogi Guacu River. It provides a very fertile environment for the young Piranhas to survive because of the presence of water hyacinths. Piranhas lay their larvae in submerged or floating waterweeds, which collects in slow-moving rivers. When rivers flood, much of this vegetation is swept away and this probably controlled piranha populations in the past. But the damming of the rivers prevents these floods. The vegetation offers protection for these nests of piranha larvae, and parents often "brood" over, or guard, them. The fish usually bite their victims once, ripping a chunk out of the person and leaving a round, crater-shaped wound with accompanying loss of tissue and bleeding. A few victims have said to have got their toes amputated after being bitten, but this is still not enough justification to provide Piranhas with the man-eater moniker. If they have eaten any humans then it is because that these humans were already dead due to drowning and their carcasses were lying in the river.

It is illegal to store Piranhas in most states in America. However if they have to be kept in captivity then a minimum of 50 gallons of water at a temperature between 75 and 80 degrees F, would be required. When they are young they must be fed normal fish food and freeze-dried bloodworms, but as they grow bigger, they can be fed chunks of fish. It is recommended that beef be avoided because it is difficult to digest. It is a known practice in America for aquarium owners to pass off other fish that look similar to the Piranha as Piranhas, most notably - Plecostomus Catfish, Silver Dollars and Pacus.