Dodie and I don’t eat candy, sweets, chips, bread, ice cream, pies, cakes and most processed foods. It is paying off with much improved health benefits.
Every Wednesday we usually post a new recipe which has become a favorite feature for many of our readership subscribers. In 2025, we began focusing on more healthy dishes, centered on whole foods.
Before Obamacare, I had a doctor (I trusted) who was unlike any physician before and after. He spent the time and ordered the tests needed to find out what was really going on.
Doctors before him diagnosed me with “Chronic Fatigue Syndrome” and prescribed various pills. None worked.
Someone I continue to respect, interceded and arranged for me to meet this physician.
Long story short: He determined I had Epstein Barr Virus. It was likely a result from having a severe case of Mononucleosis during college.
He eliminated most of the prescriptions and concentrated on natural solutions like real healthy food, exercise, vitamins and supplements (this is why we endorse and take Green Pasture products).
Today, I weigh 96 pounds less than when I first walked into this doctor’s office. I admit to having weight fluctuations along the way but in 2025 continued to lose weight slowly but consistently.
Ironically, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.- led Department of Health’s new Food Pyramid aligns perfectly with Dodie’s guidance. We have been following this approach since the middle of 2025.
One of the tidbits of information this doctor and Dodie (a retired RN) have told me is to be very cautious of Deli ham.
It turns out this week, that finally, deli ham has officially been classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a Group 1 Carcinogen.
This classification places it in the same evidence category as tobacco, asbestos, and arsenic. These substances are recognized for their ability to cause cancer.
Health Risks of Deli Ham
Cancer Risk
Consuming just 50 grams of processed meat daily (roughly two slices of deli ham) is linked to a significant increase in colorectal cancer. Newer studies also link the preservatives in ham to higher risks of breast and prostate cancer.
Heart Disease & Diabetes
A 2025 study in Nature Medicine found NO “safe” amount of processed meat. The study noted that even small daily portions are associated with higher rates of Type 2 Diabetes. They are also linked to Ischemic Heart Disease.
High Sodium & Fats
Deli ham is often loaded with sodium. It sometimes contains four times more sodium than unprocessed pork. It is also high in saturated fats. These factors contribute to high blood pressure, elevated LDL cholesterol, and stroke risk.
️Why Deli Ham is Considered Harmful
Nitrates and Nitrites:
These preservatives prevent spoilage but can convert into nitrosamines, which are known carcinogens that damage the lining of the colon.
Ultra-Processing: Most deli ham is “reconstituted” – mechanically separated meat ground into a paste, then molded and sliced.
This process often includes industrial additives like carrageenan, maltodextrin, and corn syrup solids (all of which carry their own health risks). Not to mention containing an overabundance of sugar disguised in its many forms.
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IN GOD WE TRUST
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Excellent! Isn’t getting to the root causes of our health troubles the best way to go?
I’m with you on deli ham; processed meat in general. My old pastor, a great guy, died of esophageal cancer. He ate a great deal deli ham and bacon. It’s known to have terrible results if fed to dogs and cats, as well.
That said, I have to confess to eating a whole roast beef grinder yesterday. It wasn’t the uncured kind!
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And big congratulations on losing those 96 pounds! I thought you both looked great in that photo. What you are doing is working!
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You two are a beautiful couple who appear to be radiant from all the good food you’re eating. You are what you eat is the absolute truth. Thanks for all the healthy recipes, Dodi! 🙂
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Thanks so much Ms. Nancy ~ we both feel much better and are happy with our food choices these days! 💗👍
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Thank you for posting this! I am also recently gluten free and also no processed sugars and only A2/A2 dairy products (the real dairy) due to health complications—and feeling so much better and also lost weight in the process! Passing this along to my daughter as she has been warning me off deli meat! Thank you both for all you do. God bless you and your family in this new year!
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God Bless you too! Thank you.
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Yes ~ thanks and Kudos to you❗🎉💟
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I have one of those large, thick oval ham steaks in my freezer. Should I toss it? Would that have the same issues as the thinly sliced deli ham that Subway (and others) put on their sandwiches?
CONGRATS on your 90° health turnaround. No doubt having found your soulmates in each other is a contributing factor to your glow. ☀️
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I talked to nurse Dodie about this. She said, “No don’t toss it.” If it’s a bone in ham it’s good. Basically any processed items like Subway we don’t eat. She said she doesn’t trust it. FYI, she as an RN, she has taught nutrition classes and even today she stays abreast of all new research, announcements and data.
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Ham steak was in limbo until just now. Many thanks, Nurse Dodie!
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😅💜👍
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