Pass the Mustard, or Just Pass on the Hot Dog?
The health consequences of eating processed meats
Article by:
Andrew W. Saul, Ph.D.
Editor-In-Chief, Orthomolecular Medicine News Service
Reprinted with permission from Orthomolecular Medicine News Service
🌭 The Hot Dog Reality
More hot dogs are eaten at the 4th of July holiday than at any other time of the year. The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council says that "during the Independence Day weekend, 155 million will be gobbled up" and that Americans will consume more than seven billion hot dogs over the summer.
"Every year," they proudly proclaim, "Americans eat an average of 60 hot dogs each."
That looks to be a modest average of just over one hot dog per week per American. But there are at least 7 million vegetarians in the US, and another 20 million who would be inclined to avoid meat. This means that even if you do not eat any hot dogs at all, someone else is eating your share.
But a hot dog or two a week? Big deal! Maybe it is.
⚠️ Alarming Health Risks
👶 Risk to Children
- • Children who eat one hot dog a week double their risk of a brain tumor
- • Two per week triples the risk
- • Kids eating more than twelve hot dogs a month (three a week) have nearly ten times the risk of leukemia as children who eat none
(1 hot dog/week)
(2 hot dogs/week)
(12+ hot dogs/month)
👥 Risk to Adults
Of 190,000 adults studied for seven years, those eating the most processed meat such as deli meats and hot dogs had a 68 percent greater risk of pancreatic cancer than those who ate the least.
Important: Pancreatic cancer is especially difficult to treat.
🛡️ Protective Measures
Think twice before you serve up your next tube steak. If your family is going to eat hot dogs, at least take your vitamins.
💊 Vitamin Protection
- • Hot dog eating children taking supplemental vitamins showed reduced cancer risk
- • Vitamins C and E prevent the formation of nitrosamines
- • Nutritional therapy can help fight illness
🥗 Better Choices
- • Consider plant-based alternatives
- • Choose uncured, nitrate-free options when available
- • Limit processed meat consumption overall
📚 Scientific References
🔬 About Orthomolecular Medicine
Nutritional Medicine is Orthomolecular Medicine
Orthomolecular medicine uses safe, effective nutritional therapy to fight illness. The peer-reviewed Orthomolecular Medicine News Service is a non-profit and non-commercial informational resource.
Editorial Review Board
- • Ralph K. Campbell, M.D. (USA)
- • Carolyn Dean, M.D., N.D. (Canada)
- • Damien Downing, M.D. (United Kingdom)
- • Michael Ellis, M.D. (Australia)
- • Michael Gonzalez, D.Sc., Ph.D. (Puerto Rico)
- • Steve Hickey, Ph.D. (United Kingdom)
- • James A. Jackson, Ph.D. (USA)
- • Bo H. Jonsson, M.D., Ph.D. (Sweden)
- • Thomas Levy, M.D., J.D. (USA)
- • Jorge R. Miranda-Massari, Pharm.D. (Puerto Rico)
- • Erik Paterson, M.D. (Canada)
- • Gert E. Shuitemaker, Ph.D. (Netherlands)
Andrew W. Saul, Ph.D., Editor and contact person
Email: [email protected]
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