Are nitrates and nitrites in commonly found in ham bad for the body? if yes, why?

Question

I always go to the supermarket and choose the brand that does not contain this ingredients, because someone told they are bad, but I wonder what exactly are them and how they affect my body.

Answer 1

The concern is the Nitrites will combine with the Amines in meat and convert to Nitrosamines, which is found to be a carcinogen in animal testing. However, there is no cutoff level defined for humans.

The link below discusses nitrosamines.

Are the nitrates and nitrites in ham bad for the body?
Actually hard to say. The industry tries to use the lowest amount possible to preserve the meat. It comes down to a trade off. Is it accaptable to use less nitrites, but increase the risk of botulism?

I, for one, still eat foods preserved with nitrites and nitrates and have used those products in my own recipes. As with all things, moderation is the key.

Answer 2

Nitrates definetly make people have migranes.