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Eggs are well known as a healthy breakfast option, but certain added ingredients can detract from these health benefits. If you’re not careful, some ingredients can actually turn a ‘healthy’ egg dish into the opposite.
Specifically, adding processed meats like sausage and bacon to your eggs can change an otherwise healthy breakfast into more of an indulgence.
Bacon
Keeping bacon in moderation is important in creating a healthy diet.
According to WebMD, "68% of bacon's calories come from fat, almost half of which is saturated."
Plus, "Each ounce of bacon contributes 30 milligrams of cholesterol (not to mention the cholesterol from the eggs that often accompany bacon."
Turkey bacon, the healthier alternative to traditional bacon, is also not great for your diet.
It contains less fat and fewer calories, but it is still a processed meat that is high in sodium.
In addition, turkey bacon has less protein and more sugar than traditional bacon, according to Healthline.
Sausage
Sausage is another popular breakfast meat that you're better off avoiding.
Processed meats in general are high in sodium and, according to Dr. Oz, could lead to serious health conditions: "One study that examined over 8,000 diets and incidents of diabetes found that subjects who consumed any processed meats were 38% more likely to develop diabetes."
Healthline says, "Eating high amounts of processed meat over a long period may increase the risk of many chronic diseases, such as heart disease and cancer."
With that in mind, next time you make eggs, it's a good idea to stay away from processed meats.
Instead, try adding some vegetables to your egg dish; spinach, mushrooms, and peppers are all popular choices. Having a piece of avocado toast with your eggs is another healthy option.