Can You Eat Bacon on the AIP Diet? A Guide to AIP-Compliant Bacon

Bacon is a beloved food for many people following the Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) diet. But with so many brands and ingredients to navigate, you may be wondering: can you actually eat bacon on AIP? The short answer is yes, you can eat bacon on AIP as long as you choose the right products.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about AIP-compliant bacon, including:

• How bacon is made
• The difference between cured and uncured bacon
• Ingredients to watch out for
• Whether uncured bacon is healthier
• AIP bacon brand recommendations
• Where to buy AIP bacon
• And more!

Overview of How Bacon is Made

To understand which ingredients make bacon AIP-compliant or not it helps to first understand how most bacon is made.

Bacon is typically made by curing pork belly in a mixture of salt, sugar, and spices. The pork then soaks in this mixture, called a brine, which preserves the meat and adds flavor.

After brining, the pork goes through a smoking process which also helps preserve it. Finally, preservatives like sodium nitrite are often added to prevent bacteria growth and enhance color.

Now let’s look at the curing process more closely,

Cured vs. Uncured Bacon

There are two main types of bacon: cured and uncured. Here’s the difference:

Cured bacon contains added nitrates or nitrites to preserve it. The curing agents give cured bacon its iconic pink color. Cured bacon also contains other preservatives, salt, sugar, and flavorings.

Curing can be done through a dry rub method or soaking the meat in a wet brine. Many mass-produced bacon brands use faster wet brining techniques.

Uncured bacon does not contain added synthetic nitrates/nitrites. However, it still contains naturally occurring nitrates from vegetable powders like celery powder. The curing process and ingredients are otherwise similar.

• Cured bacon contains artificial preservatives like sodium nitrite.
• Uncured bacon contains nitrates from natural sources like celery powder.

Now let’s look at whether uncured bacon is healthier.

Is Uncured Bacon Healthier Than Cured?

There is some debate over whether uncured bacon is healthier than cured bacon. Here are the main points:

• Studies show artificial nitrites can form cancer-causing compounds called nitrosamines.
• Nitrites from vegetable sources may be less risky because of antioxidant content.
• But there is no definitive evidence uncured bacon is healthier or lower risk.

For AIP, uncured bacon is considered more compliant because it avoids synthetic additives. But cured bacon from high-quality sources can potentially be tolerated as well.

Can You Eat Bacon on AIP? Which Ingredients to Avoid

While cured bacon is allowed on AIP in moderation, there are some ingredients to watch out for:

Sugars – Brown sugar, cane sugar, honey, maple syrup. Look for “no sugar added” varieties.

Preservatives – Sodium erythorbate, sodium nitrite, BHT, sodium phosphates.

Anti-caking agents – Dextrose, modified food starch.

Flavorings – Smoke flavoring, yeast extract, hydrolyzed corn protein, “natural flavors.”

Nightshades – Paprika, chili pepper, cayenne are common nightshade spices.

Seeds – Spice blends may contain seed-based spices like mustard or peppercorns. Ask brands about ingredients.

Other Additives – Coloring agents, MSG, carrageenan.

Ideally, AIP-compliant bacon contains just pork, water, salt, and celery powder or other veggie powders.

AIP-Compliant Bacon Brand Recommendations

Here are some recommended bacon brands that are AIP-compliant:

Applegate – Organic No Sugar Bacon, Sunday Bacon

Pederson’s Natural Farms – No Sugar Added Bacon, Smoked Bacon

Wellshire Farms – Sugar Free Bacon

US Wellness Meats – Dry Cured Bacon

Butcher Box – Heritage Pork Bacon

Primal Palate – AIP Bacon, uncured

Look for bacon with only pork, water, salt, and veggie powders like celery juice powder. Call brands to ask about spices and other details.

Where to Buy AIP-Compliant Bacon

You can find AIP bacon at health food stores, online stores, and direct from brands:

• Health food stores – Sprouts, Whole Foods, Earth Fare

• Online – US Wellness Meats, Butcher Box, Amazon

• Direct from brands – Applegate, Pederson’s Farms, Primal Palate

Use brand store locators to find AIP bacon near you. Delivery services like Butcher Box ship to your door. Shop online or visit health markets with wide selections.

DIY AIP Bacon – Make Your Own at Home

If you can’t find high-quality AIP bacon, another option is making your own at home.

Here are some recipes for DIY AIP bacon using pork belly, salt, spices, and veggie powders for curing:

• AIP Maple Bacon (Unbound Wellness)

• Cured Pork Belly (The Paleo Mom)

• Easy Oven Bacon (The Unsophisticated Caveman)

With some pork belly, compliant ingredients, and a curing period, you can create custom AIP bacon at home.

AIP Bacon Recipes to Try

Once you’ve got your AIP-compliant bacon, here are some tasty recipes to try:

• BLT Salad – The Paleo Mom’s AIP take on a classic.

• Bacon-Wrapped Scallops – Easy finger food with bacon.

• Bacon-Wrapped Dates – Savory, sweet, and AIP-friendly.

• Bacon and Beef Meatloaf – Comfort food from Unbound Wellness.

• AIP Chicken Cobb Salad – Crunchy salad topped with bacon.

• Beef Chili with Bacon – Hearty chili with bacon from The Paleo Mom.

The Takeaway on AIP Bacon

While it takes some label reading, you can absolutely eat bacon on the AIP diet. Seek out high-quality uncured bacon without additives, sugars, and seed/nightshade spices. Popular AIP bacon brands include Applegate, Pederson’s, and US Wellness Meats. You can also make DIY AIP bacon at home. Incorporate AIP-friendly bacon into recipes like BLT salad, bacon-wrapped scallops, chili, and more!