Learning the effects of eating too much processed meat

A viral post circulating on Facebook claims that children who eat 12 or more hot dogs per month are at nine times the normal risk of developing leukemia, citing a University of California Med School as its source. Older viral posts have also linked hot dogs to potential risks of causing cancer in the stomach and blood. While these claims are cetrtainly alarming, they are misleading.

Upon further research, the claim can be traced back to a 1994 study released by researchers at the University of Southern California School of Medicine. Based on a New York Times article about the study, the doctors were examining the higher incidence of leukemia among 232 children in Los Angeles. They narrowed it down to 14 children with leukemia who regularly ate more than 12 hot dogs per month. From the article itself, the findings, while intriguing, could not be used to draw definitive conclusions. Though it still opens the question regarding the safety of hot dogs as a staple in one's diet.

Hot dogs are classified as processed meat. Regular consumption of processed meat has been linked to various health issues, including heart disease and colorectal cancer. Most studies cite the chemicals used for making processed meat as the culprit. Processed food is also notorious for having high amounts of fat, salt, or sugar.

While a hot dog or two may seem harmless, keeping them as a regular staple in your diet could cause problems in the long run. To avoid these health risks, a balanced diet is recommended. As always, a steady intake of fruits and veggies remains one of the best ways to keep your body healthy.