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Calories in Bacon
By Renee Rogers RD, LDN
Bacon is an “empty calorie” food since it contains calories and fat with little nutrients. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends everyone reduce their consumption of “empty calories”. The average adult consuming 1,600 to 2,200 calories should consume no more than 120 to 265 calories from “empty calories” per day. 1 slice of thick cut bacon contains 60 calories.
Table Amount of Calories in Bacon:
| Brand | Calories | Total Fat | Saturated Fat | Protein |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oscar Mayer Smoked Bacon (1 slice) | 35 | 3g | 1g | 2g |
| Oscar Mayer Turkey Bacon (1 slice) | 35 | 3g | 1g | 2g |
| Oscar Mayer Thick Cut Bacon (1 slice) | 60 | 5g | 1.5g | 4g |
| Oscar Mayer Super Thick Cut Bacon (1 slice) | 90 | 7g | 2.5g | 5g |
| Turkey Bacon 95% Fat Free (1 slice) | 20 | 0.5g | 0g | 3g |
| Canadian Sliced Bacon (1 slice) | 20 | 0.5g | 0g | 4g |
| Canadian Style Bacon (1 slice) | 20 | 0.5g | 0.5g | 6g |
| Oscar Mayer Real Bacon Bits (1 tablespoon) | 25 | 1.5g | 0.5g | 2g |
| Oscar Mayer Low Sodium Bacon (1 slice) | 35 | 3g | 1.5g | 2g |
| Spencer's Back Bacon Dry Cured (1 slice) | 80 | 3g | 1g | 14g |
| Morningstar Meatless Veggie Bacon (1 strip) | 30 | 2g | 0g | 1g |
Bacon provides a significant amount of “empty calories” to the American diet. Bacon is high in saturated fat and cholesterol while remaining low in heart-healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat.
Saturated fats tend to raise ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol levels in the blood, increasing risk for heart disease.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends eating smaller amounts of bacon less often to reduce the amount of “empty calories” in your diet and to eat healthier.
The USDA wouldn't know a good meal if it slapped them across the face.
45 percent of the fat in bacon is monounsaturated, the good-for-you fat that can help lower bad cholesterol levels. Better still, bacon's monounsaturated fat turns out to be oleic acid, the same fat found in olive oil.
2 slices of bacon also contains 7 gms of protein, the most important nutrient we need.
More horrible advise from the USDA. Bacon is good saturated and monounstaurated fats. Your brain loves bacon.
Renee, with all due respect you are all wrong. Eating bacon as part of a low carb way of eating decreases triglycerides and raises hdl. This is well documented & the Internet is littered with credible supporting doc. You've been fed a load of bologna and now you're feeding it to the public.