Processed Meat: Should You Put That Hot Dog Down?

Hot dogs are a classic summer cuisine. In fact, Americans will eat 150 million of them on the Fourth of July alone. But hot dogs, as well as other types of processed meat, have a dark side — they’re classified by the World Health Organization as a Group 1 carcinogen and linked to stomach and colorectal cancers, heart disease and more. If this is news to you, you're not alone. In this episode, we discuss everything from how processed meat affects the body to how much we can eat without taking on health risks. Hosts: Zach Moore, Katie McCallum (interviewer) Expert: Dr. Valentine Millien, Gastroenterologist Notable topics covered: What counts as processed meat Why processed meat is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen What's in processed meat that makes it so bad for us? It's more than digestive issues — processed meat leads to inflammation throughout the body It's not a bad idea to let your doctor know if you've eaten a lot of it in your lifetime Deli meat, charcuterie, beef jerky: Are some types of processed meat less harmful? The truth about "nitrate-free" deli meat You don't have to stop eating processed meat, but how much is too much? Whether the deli meat sliced behind the counter is better than pre-packaged options Dr. Millien's recommendations for healthy swaps The importance of following colorectal cancer screening guidelines  If you enjoy these kinds of conversations, be sure to subscribe. And for more topics like this, visit our blog at houstonmethodist.org/blog.