What happens to the body when you eat hot dogs: scientific facts that may scare

Popular hot dogs can lead to serious health problems—and it's not just about high-calorie content and the risk of obesity. Scientists have proven that eating even one hot dog can affect your health in the short and long term.

A bun, sausage, mayonnaise, ketchup, and mustard are the traditional ingredients of a hot dog. There are many variations of preparation: sometimes sauerkraut, pickles, bacon, Korean carrots, and generally any product that tastes good with the classic base are added. What happens to your body when you eat hot dogs, Eat This Not That has revealed.

How hot dogs can shorten your life

Speaking about the harmful effects of hot dogs, people usually refer primarily to the quality of meat and sausages. According to a study conducted by the University of Michigan and published in the scientific journal Nature, eating just one hot dog can take 36 minutes off your life—even if you usually eat a healthy diet.

So the phrase "hot dogs can shorten your life" is not a hyperbolic statement but a scientifically proven fact. Of course, you shouldn't take it so literally: a 36-minute reduction in life expectancy is only a prediction, not a guarantee. However, these predictions were made on the basis of thorough scientific research, so they should definitely not be ignored.

Hot dogs and cancer

Hot dogs contain preservatives (nitrites and nitrates) that are added to extend shelf life and minimize bacterial growth. Nitrites are also responsible for giving the sausages their rich color. However, the problem with these food additives is that there is a possible link between nitrite consumption and cancer. According to a recent study published in Foods, food additives commonly used in many types of processed meats can also become more concentrated when exposed to high grilling temperatures, even exceeding the allowed nitrate limit.

Studies have shown that cooking meat at high temperatures, especially when grilling or broiling over an open flame, can increase the risk of cancer by causing the formation of chemicals called heterocyclic amines (HCAs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). These chemicals have been linked to breast, pancreatic, colon, and other forms of cancer.

Blood pressure problems from hot dogs

Excessive sodium intake can increase the risk of high blood pressure, which is the main cause of stroke and heart disease. Scientists emphasize that hot dogs contain a high sodium content (one average hot dog provides 21% of the daily recommended maximum allowance).

Risk of heart disease

Processed meats contain too much saturated fat, which clogs the arteries and is one of the main causes of heart disease. One beef hot dog contains approximately 189 calories, 16.8 grams of fat, and 6.8 grams of saturated fat. This is 34% of the recommended daily value of saturated fat.

An interesting fact about sauerkraut

Scientists have noted that sauerkraut can minimize the harmful effects of a hot dog. This fermented food contains live and active cultures that can act as probiotics.

Earlier, OBOZREVATEL talked about the habits that are bad for the immune system. 

Subscribe to OBOZREVATEL's Telegram and Viber channels to keep up with the latest developments.