Frequent hot dog consumption linked to serious health risks, study warns

Hot dogs are a popular breakfast or dinner choice. They are easy to prepare and taste great, especially with mustard or ketchup. But do we consider how they affect our health before reaching for them?

Joey Chestnut achieved an impressive result at the International Hot Dog Eating Contest in the USA, eating as many as 83 hot dogs in 10 minutes. According to scientists, he consumed a week's worth of calories in this short time. Hot dogs are high in calories, with 100 grams containing about 230 kcal, though exact values depend on the manufacturer and type of meat.

It is important to remember that frequent consumption of hot dogs can lead to overweight and obesity. This is obvious if we look at their composition. Most hot dogs contain little nutritional value and a lot of fat. If we can't resist or don't have time for a more nutritious meal, we should choose hot dogs with the highest meat content. Avoid products containing mechanically separated meat.

Another danger related to regular hot dog consumption is the risk of cardiovascular diseases. The high content of saturated fatty acids raises the level of bad LDL cholesterol in the blood, which can lead to atherosclerosis, heart attack, or stroke. Keeping this parameter within the normal range is very important.

The substances in the hot dogs we eat so eagerly can burden our internal organs, especially the liver, which is responsible for fat metabolism. Saturated fatty acids are absorbed in the intestine and transported to the liver, which can significantly burden this organ and disrupt its function with regular consumption of fatty foods. Excessive liver burden can, in turn, lead to significant problems with the digestive system.

Surprisingly, according to researchers from the University of North Carolina, regular consumption of hot dogs is also very harmful to children. Eating just 12 hot dogs a month can cause a significant increase in the risk of leukaemia in minors – even sixfold!