Why Eating More Processed Meat May Increase Your Risk of Serious Health Problems

Processed meat is a common part of many people’s diets.

Foods such as bacon, sausages, hot dogs, ham, salami, and other cured or preserved meats are convenient, flavorful, and easy to prepare.

However, research has raised concerns about the health effects of regularly consuming large amounts of processed meat.

Eating more processed meat has been associated with a higher risk of several serious health problems, particularly cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers.

What Is Processed Meat?

Processed meat refers to meat that has been modified to improve its flavor, appearance, or shelf life.

Common methods include:

• Curing
• Salting
• Smoking
• Fermenting
• Drying
• Adding preservatives

Examples include:

• Bacon
• Sausages
• Hot dogs
• Ham
• Salami
• Pepperoni
• Corned beef
• Some packaged deli meats

Not every processed meat product is identical.

The ingredients, preparation methods, sodium content, preservatives, and fat content