Healthy marinades for the BBQ
June 22, 2009 by Liz Lewis
Filed under Cancer, Diets and Dieting, Easy Health Tips, Food and Drink
Marinades not only make grilled foods taste better, they may also make them safer. That’s the word from a number of studies that have been looking into the risk of grilling meats on the BBQ.
The latest study suggests that adding beneficial antioxidants such as rosemary extracts or Thai spices to the meat can significantly reduce the risk of ingesting heterocyclic amines (HCAs).
Last year, scientists at the University of Porto in Portugal examined the effects of beer and red wine marinades on grilled steak and discovered that simply marinating in beer or red wine for six hours reduced the levels of two types of HA by up to 90 per cent compared with unmarinated steak.
Mix all or some of these ingredients together and you’ll end up with healthy and hopefully tasty marinade recipe.
Other key ingredients for healthy, HAA reducing marinades include vinegar, citrus juices, herbs, spices and olive oil.
As for some recipes and marinade ideas, check out Marinade.com for the most comprehensive list around.
And remember, never marinate meat at room temperature. Mix, add, and then refrigerate until needed.
Happy Healthy and Safe Grilling!
