Planning a rooftop grillfest,
a family cookout in the
park or a block party? Grill
the right way to avoid the
wrong results.
THERE’S NOTHING LIKE
the smell of grilled meat wafting
through the summer air.
But charred or overly cooked
meat could contain heterocyclic
amines and polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons— dangerous
carcinogens linked to
some forms of cancer. When
consumed, these carcinogens
can damage DNA on a cellular
level.
“Studies have shown that
carcinogens are associated
with cancers of the gastrointestinal
tract, like pancreatic
cancer, stomach cancer
and colon cancer,” says
Andy Huang, M.D., hematologist
and medical oncologist
at NewYork-Presbyterian
Brooklyn Methodist Hospital.
“Proper preparation can
go a long way to preventing
overconsumption of these
chemical compounds.”
COURIER L 42 IFE, AUG. 16-22, 2019
CARCINOGEN-CUTTING
TECHNIQUES
Practice safe grilling by
adopting these strategies.
Limit contact with grill
grates. Cover the grill grates
with aluminum foil before
heating the grill. You may
not get grill marks on the
meat to demonstrate your
grill mastery, but you will get
the same great taste. Plus, using
foil is a good way to cook
more delicate fare like fish,
and it cleans up quickly.
Trim fat before grilling.
Where there’s sizzling
fat, there’s smoke filled with
harmful chemicals. Carefully
remove fat before cooking
your favorite protein over
an open flame.
Go low and slow. “Cooking
meat at lower temperatures
for a little longer time
limits the likelihood of charring,”
Dr. Huang says. “After
cooking the meat, cut off and
discard any burnt ends or
bits prior to serving.”
Avoid the sweet stuff.
Barbecue sauces and other
sugar-based glazes are more
likely to cause meat to char
than lighter marinades. If
you want a sweeter sauce, apply
it in the last few minutes
that the meat is on the grill
or serve it as a condiment
instead of cooking it on the
meat.
Marinating for two hours
or longer in a liquid-based
marinade can actually delay
the charring process when
cooking meat. Try mixing
12 ounces of cider, beer or
chicken broth with 1/4 cup of
lime juice, a chopped onion,
three cloves of minced garlic,
1/4 cup of fresh cilantro and
a diced jalapeno for a spicy
marinade that pairs well
with pork, chicken or beef. ¨
Choose vegetables and
fruits. “Vegetables and fruits
do not generate the same carcinogens
as meat during grilling,”
Dr. Huang says. “Offering
a wide selection of these
foods is a great way to host a
healthier barbecue.”
TOP FIVE GRILLING
SAFETY TIPS
Before you fire up the grill,
commit these tips to memory
for a safe and healthy cookout.
1. Scrub your equipment.
Clean grates equal bettertasting
food and less exposure
to built-up carcinogens.
Use a sturdy brush to scrub
the grate before and after using
your grill.
2. Store ingredients at
appropriate temperatures.
Leave meat in the refrigerator
or cooler until you’re
ready to grill. To reduce the
likelihood of bacteria growth
and food poisoning, all meats
should be stored at 34 to 40 degrees
Fahrenheit.
3. Marinate and pre-cook
to cut down on carcinogens.
Research suggests that using
acidic marinades containing
vinegar and lemon or lime
can keep carcinogens from
forming when meat is on the
grill. If you’re grilling in your
own yard, microwaving meat
for a few minutes can give it
a head start in the cooking
process, reducing the overall
time spent on the barbecue.
To make an appointment
with Dr. Huang, or any other
cancer specialist, at NewYork
Presbyterian Brooklyn
Methodist Hospital, please
call 718-780-7300.
NewYork-Pre sbyt erian
Brooklyn Methodist Hospital is
a member of the NewYork-Presbyterian
Regional Hospital Network.
For more information or
to find a physician, please call
718-499-2273 or visit nyp.org/
brooklyn.
Dieting is a way of life for many
people. The Boston Medical
Center says an estimated 45
million Americans go on a diet each
year, spending $33 billion annually
on weight loss products. The
figures are close to $7 billion in
Canada. However, for one segment
of the population — the elderly —
weight loss can be a sign of something
wrong.
The Mayo Clinic says that malnutrition
is a serious health concern
among seniors. Inadequate
nutrition can result in weight loss
that has far-reaching health effects.
These include a compromised immune
system, which increases the
risk of infections, poor wound healing,
and muscle weakness that can
result in falls and fractures.
Malnutrition also can lead to
further disinterest in eating, which
only compounds a weight loss problem.
Weight loss and loss of appetite
are common among seniors, particularly
those with dementia. Learning
to recognize weight loss signs
in the elderly can help others act
promptly to correct the problem.
According to senior care advocate
and placement center A Place
for Mom, the senior population is at
risk of malnourishment for several
reasons, including:
• Lack of energy to cook
• Specific health conditions that
impact ability to prepare or acquire
meals
• Lack of appetite attributed to
decreased taste bud function or depression
• Inability to afford quality foods
• Side effects of certain medications
Unfortunately, malnutrition is
a very common, yet widely undiagnosed,
problem among seniors.
If a friend or loved one has visible
bones under the skin, loose dentures,
loose rings on fingers, has
dropped clothing sizes, or is leaving
food on his plate, he may be suffering
from malnourishment. Concerned
loved ones can take several
steps to determine if their friend or
family member is malnourished:
Observe loved
ones’ eating habits.
Routinely check the refrigerator
and pantry
to see which foods your
loved one is eating. In a
nursing home setting,
check with an administrator
to see how mealtimes
are going.
Speak with doctors.
This will help
you see if the weight
loss is a side effect of medications
or another health concern. Bring up
any concerns you have about malnutrition.
Provide finger food for the
senior. Easy-to-manage foods will
help seniors who have lost dexterity
still be able to feed themselves.
Encourage foods that are fortified
with nutrients. Supplementation
with nutritional shakes can
help fill the void.
Make meals social events.
Making the concept of gathering
around the table for food fun can encourage
your loved one to eat.
Mild or moderate exercise can
stir up one’s appetite. Walking or
chair-based exercises can help make
people more interested in food.
Introduce new foods that can
whet the appetite.
Weight loss can benefit some people.
But among the elderly, weight
loss may be a byproduct of malnutrition.
Wellness
When weight loss may be
worrisome for seniors
Seniors may need some help with meals to ensure they do
not suffer the effects of malnutrition.
/nyp.org