-Bacon up that sausage boy! -- Homer Simpson (Season 13, Episode 6)

 

Bacon has been given a bad rap.  Sure, it has been rightfully accused of being delicious, but it has also been villified for its high saturated fat content, which many claim raise cholesterol and increase one's risk of heart disease.  One of those many is Elaine Magee, "nutrition expert/writer for WebMD.com."  (Far be it from me to merely tear down a straw man, let's put a face to this idiocy).

 

In a March 2009 article posted on WebMD, Magee had the following to say:

 

You probably won't be surprised to learn that 68% of bacon's calories come from fat, almost half of which is saturated. Each ounce of bacon contributes 30 milligrams of cholesterol (not to mention the cholesterol from the eggs that often accompany bacon.

Eating foods rich in saturated fats can raise your cholesterol levels, increasing your risk of heart disease and stroke. And if those saturated fat-rich foods are also high in dietary cholesterol, cholesterol levels tend to rise even higher.