This summer, are you planning to fire up the grill? While there are many grilling recipes to choose from throughout the summer months, there are a few tried-and-true favorites that everyone enjoys: burgers, hot dogs, and sausages. While eating these meals rarely will not harm your health, you may experience some unfavorable side effects on the road if you eat processed meats frequently. Therefore, it is crucial to understand what happens to your body when you eat sausage frequently.
We looked at the most recent study on processed meats and what you should know about them before eating them. So, before you fire up the grill this summer, educate yourself on what happens to your body when you consume sausage.
1. Your chance of contracting a disease rises.
Most sausage is considered processed meat, and eating any processed meat, regardless of the type of meat in it, can increase your risk of a few chronic diseases. Yes, chicken and turkey sausages are included on this list.
According to a study published by the University of Zurich, people who consume more processed meat regularly have a higher risk of dying from cardiovascular disease and cancer. It is all due to processing-related carcinogens (such as nitrosamines).
However, one point to note in the study is that the participants consumed 40 grams of processed meat each day, which is a significant amount of processed meat to finish daily. The study concludes that you should consume no more than 20 grams of processed beef every day.
2. You'll obtain some protein because of this.
All sausages are still considered protein sources, and getting enough protein in your diet is vital for your health and even your weight. Protein is a macronutrient that helps you feel satiated for longer, which is why getting enough of it in a day is vital. The protein content of an average sausage link might be anything from 16 to 20 grams.
Even though sausage contains protein, not every link is considered a lean protein. It is critical to include some lean proteins in your diets, such as chicken and fish.
3. You'll ingest a significant amount of sodium.
Most sausage products are heavy in sodium, and just eating a high-sodium diet can be harmful to your health. A JAMA study found that eating a high-sodium diet increases the risk of cardiovascular events and heart disease. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), you should not consume more than 2,300 milligrams (about twice the weight of a small paper clip) of salt per day, with an ideal limit of 1,500 milligrams (almost half the importance of a penny), to avoid excessive blood pressure, which is a significant risk factor for heart disease.
According to the USDA, after processing, a specific sausage link (about four oz.) might contain upwards of 900 mg (about the weight of a small paper clip) of sodium. To put this in context, four oz. of cooked chicken breast has less than 100 mg (about the weight of a business card) of sodium.
4. Some sausages have much saturated fat in them.
You may be ingesting much-saturated fat depending on the sort of sausage you buy. According to the USDA, an average link of sausage (which usually holds ground pig, beef, or a combination of the two) can have up to 13 grams of saturated fat. According to the American Heart Association, this is the most significant amount of saturated fat you should consume in a day on a 2,000-calorie diet. To keep your cholesterol and blood pressure under control, you should consume only 5% to 6% of your calories from saturated fat.
Too much saturated fat in one's diet can lead to a slew of problems. It not only contributes to weight gain, but it can also raise your "bad" LDL cholesterol, putting you at risk for heart disease and stroke.
So, if you are planning to grill some sausages this summer, keep in mind how much you will be eating.