what's the deal with sodium nitrate?
 

I'm new to the low carb dieting, but I recall reading somewhere that during Induction of Atkins you shouldn't eat any of the meats containing sodium nitrate. Is this true? I've tried to find pepperoni and salami, but they all have sodium nitrate. So does the bacon. Any help would really be appreciated since these are some of the things that I would love to be able to enjoy.
Also, I was a serious soda drinker prior to this. I'm drinking strictly water now and have been since I started a little over a week ago, but is it okay to have caffiene free diet coke or dr. pepper? I wouldn't mind just having a little every once in a while to kick the craving for carbonation. :spin:

Hi bride2b,

Don't you have carbonated water in your country? If it's only the carbonation you want you could drink it with a twist of lemon and it would be almost as good as mormal water - if the issue is caffeine that's a different matter.

With regard to nitrates, these are added to the brine in which meats are preserved in small quantities to kill bacteria like botulism. Some people are violently against them and pay lots of money for nitrate free bacon etc. Personally I don't care and eat them anyway. It's up to you to decide.

P.S. If you fill in the 'location' on your profile it would help people when giving you advice. I am English but live in the ex USSR - we are a really international community here :thup: .