1. Eating bacon can increase our intelligence and memory.
According to research, there are cognitive benefits to eating bacon. In a study done at the University of North Carolina, they found out that choline, a micronutrient in bacon, can help in healthy brain development. By increasing our cognitive memory, we can reduce our chances of Alzheimer’s disease and other mental health issues.[1]
2. Did you know that bacon is more environmentally friendly than beef?
Bacon and pork have a much smaller carbon footprint compared to beef. Based on a study, it needs 28 times more land and 11 times more water to grow beef compared to pork and bacon. But this does not mean bacon is eco-friendly. It’s just that the production of pork leaves less carbon footprint than beef. However, its carbon footprint increases as the meat are transported and turned into processed meat.[2]
3. Bacon today is 86% cheaper than it was a hundred years ago. 
According to Fox News, in 2014, the price of bacon hit a new all-time high when it reached $6.11 per pound. But bacon was not really more expensive than ever. Back in 1919, the nominal price of bacon was $0.53 per pound, while the average nominal wages were $0.25 an hour. This means that when adjusting for wages and inflation, bacon is 86% less today compared to its price 100 years ago.[3]
4. Bacon was first served in China thousands of years ago in the form of salted pork belly.
It was around 1500 BC when salted pork belly first appeared in China. Pork curing methods became popular throughout the Roman Empire, and Anglo-Saxon peasants cooked using bacon fat. Until the 16th century, the Middle English term bacon referred to all pork in general.[4]
5. Americans eat an average of 18 pounds of bacon per year.
Annually, the average American eats about 18 pounds of cured, smoked pork. That weight is a bit less than an average car tire.[3] Bacon is usually enjoyed at breakfast along with eggs or with lettuce and tomato during lunch.
6. Did you know that three slices of bacon have fewer calories compared to a can of pop?
The average serving of bacon is three slices. For each serving, it contains 7.5 grams of protein, 9 grams of fat, 30 milligrams of cholesterol, 435 milligrams of sodium, and 120 calories. A can of soda, on the other hand, contains zero grams of protein and has 150 calories.[3]
7. One serving of bacon is equal to about one-fifth of the recommended daily fat, or 20% of the daily recommended fat intake.
The Recommended Daily Allowance or RDA of fat is 44 to 77 grams per day. Therefore, three slices of bacon count for at most 20% of a person’s recommended daily fat intake. The saturated fat intake may be higher than one would like, but it is hardly off the charts.[3]
8. Around 70% of bacon is consumed at breakfast, making it a very popular breakfast food.
Bacon is very popular in restaurants as it is used on burgers, pasta, and sandwiches. However, it remains more popular as breakfast food. In fact, 70% of bacon in the world is consumed at breakfast, according to surveys.[5]
9. Many people want to make bacon the national food of America, based on a survey done by Smithfield Foods in 2014.
According to the survey, 65% of Americans favor designating bacon to be the national food. However, pigs were not native to the New World. They only arrived with Columbus, who brought eight pigs to Cuba due to the suggestion of Queen Isabella.[6]
10. Did you know that there is a bacon camp in the United States? Each year, Camp Bacon is held in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Camp bacon is an actual summer camp that exists for the purpose of celebrating people’s love of the popular breakfast side dish. The camp enables bacon enthusiasts to listen to speakers, try cooking classes, and learn a lot of things about bacon.[7]
11. Romans called bacon “Petaso”.
The first bacon was known to come from the Romans, and they called it “Petaso.” They made it by boiling salted pig shoulder with figs and seasoning it with pepper sauces.[8]
12. The word bacon refers to the back of the pig that supplied the meat.
“Bacon” comes from the Germanic root “-bak,” which pertains to the back of the pig where the meat is taken from. “Bakko” became the French “bacco,” which the English adopted around the 12th century, naming the dish “bacoun.” During those times, the term referred to any pork product. However, in the 14th century, it specifically referred to the cured meat that we know today.[9]
13. During World War II, bacon was used to make explosives.
The United States government urged citizens to donate excess bacon fat to the army during World War II. There was even a committee that was created for it, which was called the American Fat Salvage Committee. They used the fat from the bacon to make glycerin, which was used to make bombs.[10]
14. There is a church of bacon, which has more than 30,000 members under the commandment “Praise Bacon.” It’s quite crazy, but it’s true.
The United Church of Bacon, whose logo is two slices of crispy bacon that bear a resemblance to praying hands, is an established organization with members from different parts of the world. It was founded by Prophet John Whiteside in 2010 with atheists, agnostics, and nonbelievers in mind. For them, bacon is real and can be proven to exist in a court of law. That is why they chose bacon as their rallying point.[11]
15. There was an alarm clock called the Wake ‘n Bacon that was planned a few years back.
It was an original combination of a toaster and an alarm clock. It promised to wake up people to fresh-cooked bacon. However, it never made it past the prototype phase. But the intent on waking up to a smoky, savory aroma was able to pick up the special app by Oscar Mayer called the Wake-Up & Smell the Bacon alarm app, which came with a scent emitting attachment.[9]
References
- https://www.mtlblog.com/why-bacon-is-actually-good-for-your-mental-health
- https://www.ecoandbeyond.co/articles/most-environmentally-friendly-meat/
- https://fee.org/articles/15-economic-historical-and-health-facts-about-bacon/
- https://www.thespruceeats.com/history-of-bacon-1807563#
- https://intellectualtakeout.org/2020/01/03/15-economic-historical-and-health-facts-about-bacon/
- https://familytreemagazine.com/history/bonkers-for-bacon-history/
- https://www.teenvogue.com/story/camp-bacon
- https://southfloridareporter.com/early-romans-called-petaso-call-bacon/
- https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/85427/12-savory-facts-about-bacon
- https://thebreakfastshoppe.com/15-facts-about-bacon/
- https://www.mashed.com/805376/the-bacon-centric-church-you-probably-didnt-know-existed/