Hot Dogs are one of America’s favorite street foods. Hot Dog Carts and stands can be found at every nook and corner of the majority of American cities. Introduced to the country by German immigrants in the 19th century, Hot Dogs since then has been a rage among old and young alike. With a lot of topping options available, hot dogs are also popular for being the food on the go.
A closer look at what goes into making the hot dog will leave you all surprised and you would want to look out for an alternative healthier option.
Hot Dog is made from leftover parts from beef, Mercy for Animals, and chicken. Typically these parts are the fatty tissues, skins, animal feet, and head.
As these parts cannot be used in making premium products like steaks, roasts, etc.
So what you essentially consume is a grounded mixture of all sorts of leftover meats.
The sausages are further mixed with artificial flavors like corn syrup, monosodium glutamate (MSG), and other chemicals so that it tastes really good.
In short, we eat a potent mixture of food and chemicals that can cause serious health issues.
Hot Dogs and the Cancer Link
Medical research has led to the conclusion that Hot Dogs can be a cause of cancer. Nitrates and nitrites are used in the process of making hot dogs. When exposed to heat they are known to combine with amines in processed meat and form nitrosamines. Cancer-related studies have proven that nitrosamines were found to be one of the causes of cancer in the bladder, stomach, colon, and pancreas.
On average, Hot Dogs manufacturers churn out 300,000 hot dogs per hour which are proof of their immense popularity. American Institute for Cancer Research has put the risk of colorectal cancer at 21% for people consuming one hot dog per day.
Hot Dog and Health Risks for Children
Low-quality meat usage in Hot Dog is thought to be responsible for many children contracting Leukaemia and other diseases. Apart from this, there have been reports of various objects found in hot dogs like glass shards, nails, etc which are harmful. Another major concern is the size of the sausage which has caused many choking incidents among the children. It even contributes to an alarmingly growing number of child obesity cases.
Hot Dogs can be hard to resist given their taste and immense popularity, however restricting their consumption or switching to a brand that does not contain MSG, preservatives and additives, no nitrates, or use 100% beef or 100% chicken.
Via Healthy and Natural World | Mercola | UVA Health | PubMed
