DALLAS (NewsNation) — Processed meats have been under scrutiny for years, but nutritionists say there are good reasons to consider limiting the amount of them we eat.
Research shows that meats like bologna or sausage can contain preservatives or sodium that if eaten a lot over time, can be associated with some serious health problems, including cancer, heart disease and even diabetes.
The doctors and nutritionists who spoke with NewsNation said eating a hot dog or a turkey sandwich is OK in moderation, but shouldn’t happen every day. They said the healthier option is always better.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), processed means meat that has been salted, cured, smoked or has preservatives. The organization found back in 2015 that every 50-gram portion — with is about two-and-a-half slices — of processed meat eaten daily increases the risk of colon cancer by 18%.
Not to mention, the high levels of sodium can lead to high blood pressure.
Processed meats have been banned in New York City schools since 2019. Back in February, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced schools will reduce weekly sodium limits in meals over the next few years.
WHO said about seven million lives could be saved by 2030 if every country in the world reduced sodium intake by 30%; but so far, humans are not on track.
Dr. Chris Damman, a gastroenterologist at the University of Washington Medical Center, said people don’t have to cut processed meats out entirely, they just have to be more aware.
“Is it ok to have a hot dog every now and then? Is it ok to have turkey or even bologna on a sandwich every now and then? I think it probably is. But is it something that we should be consuming every day breakfast, lunch and dinner? Probably not,” Damman said.
Certified nutritionist Carrie Lupoli suggested eating higher-quality meats instead.
“Having the grass-fed meat instead of the cheaper, alternative that we know is not going to serve our body. Having chicken that is organic or grass-fed, even sausage, you can have sausage that is cleaner. And so all of this is about being an informed consumer,” Lupoli said
Lupoli said when out shopping for groceries, look for the ingredients list before buying a product. The fewer things on the list, the better, she said, and beware of anything that is hard to pronounce.
She explained that a lot of companies are now offering much healthier options.