These summer staples are a BBQ must, but you should often understand the risks of eating them.
Although this famous summer dish is tasty, do you make it at every cookout? Because the hot dog is one of the most popular sausage products in the United States, the answer is almost certainly yes.
Ground cured beef or pork (or both) is placed into casings and twisted into 6-inch links to make hot dogs. Hot dogs prepared from turkey, soy, chicken, and other ingredients are now available. When eating a hot dog, most people place the links inside a bun and top them with condiments such as ketchup, mustard, or sauerkraut. Are you curious about how much meat and toppings may affect your health? We finally get to the bottom of the negative effects of eating hot dogs.
A 6-inch hot dog has approximately 5.1 grams of protein. This macronutrient is believed to assist in tissue repair and growth. On the other hand, hot dogs should be kept on the menu as a special treat because they do have their disadvantages.
Hot dogs contain preservatives known as nitrites and nitrates, which are added to assist extend the shelf life of the product while also reducing bacterial development on the surface. Nitrites are also responsible for the bright red colour of hot dogs. The problem is that there may be a link between nitrite use and cancer. If you're serious about eating hot dogs, look for labels that say "nitrate-free," "no added nitrates," or "uncured".
3. It can increase your risk for heart disease.
Processed meats include a lot of artery-clogging saturated fat, which is connected to heart disease. About 150 calories, 13.5 grams of fat, and 5.3 grams of saturated fat are found in a 6-inch hot dog. That's 26% of the necessary daily saturated fat intake – from just one dog! If you like to have two or three at a time, it might add up to much-saturated fat.
If you're a lover of sauerkraut, then pour some on top of the hot dog. This fermented meal contains live and active cultures that may function as probiotics and provide significant health advantages. They also assist in absorbing nutrients from foods passing through your gut.
Almost everyone in the United States consumes more salt than the recommended daily limit of 2,300 mg. While your body needs a small amount of salt to function correctly, too much salt can harm your health. According to the 2015-2020 dietary guidelines, overdoing it on salt can increase the risk of high blood pressure, which is a leading cause of stroke and heart disease. Hot dogs are among the foods with the greatest salt content: one 6-inch hot dog contains 21% of the daily recommended maximum sodium intake, and that's not including everything else you eat throughout the day.