Is your BBQ discretely GRILLING your JOINTS?

Happy Memorial Day!

Today we salute the service and sacrifice of all our beloved veterans.

I hope you carve out time today to rest, relax, and unwind with friends and family.

As for me and my family? Today marks the official start of “grilling season”.

We always fire up the grill and serve up burgers and hot dogs with some of our neighbors.

Because, let’s face it, there’s nothing quite like a good BBQ on Memorial Day!

But there’s something I’m going to clue you in on about grilling and your health…

It turns out that under adverse conditions… it could be silently hurting your joints!

But, there’s no need to put down the charcoal just yet…

If you can believe it, a study published in the journal BMJ Open says that that BARBEQUING could increase the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis due to the release of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).

PAHs are environmental pollutants that form during the combustion of substances like coal, oil, gas, and wood, as well as the flame grilling of meat and other foods.

I know it seems preposterous… but PAHs can be very dangerous. (They also originate from smoking TOBACCO… And we all know the inherent dangers of that!)

Because PAHs enter your body upon inhalation, the study found that heightened exposure to PAHs could raise the risk of rheumatoid arthritis – a chronic autoimmune disease where your immune system mistakenly attacks the cells lining the joints that, over time, can damage cells, cartilage, and nearby bone.

So what’s the takeaway?

Take your grill the dump? Never grill AGAIN?

Hardly!

My recommendation is, if you grill with charcoal, look for chemical-free briquets. They can be found at most home improvement stores.

If you have a gas grill, consider not standing right over the flame, and keep your grill in a well-ventilated outdoor area like a deck or driveway. Moderation is also key, try not to grill every single meal for DAYS on end this summer.

Be aware, be mindful, and enjoy!

To safe grilling,

Sarah Reagan

PS – Speaking of Memorial Day… check out this afternoon’s edition of eAlert on the health benefits of some Memorial Day staples.

Sources:

StudyFinds. “Grilling up joint pain? Barbecues could be causing rheumatoid arthritis.” https://studyfinds.org/grilling-barbecues-arthritis/