Do hotdogs prevent heart disease?

July 13, 1:21 PMSeattle Vegan ExaminerVirginia Messina, MPH, RD

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Healthy? Only if it's a veggie hotdog

Meat advocates have a new slogan: "Cured meat for healthy heartbeat." A number of farmers are blogging about the health benefits of hotdogs and other cured meats as a way to prevent heart disease.

Researchers have been looking at nitrates and nitrites in cured meats for their potential heart health benefits. In an article in this month’s American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (AJCN) they suggested that nitrites can play a role in a healthy diet since nitrite infusion helps vessels to dilate and can reduce blood pressure. But they didn’t suggest eating more processed meat.

In fact, the authors quoted a recent report from the American institute for Cancer Research, which was unable to determine any safe level for consumption of processed meats given the cancer risk associated with these foods. 

Healthy nitrite and nitrate sources

But, processed meats aren’t the only source of nitrites and nitrates in the diet. These compounds are also found in many vegetables such as celery, spinach, beets, Chinese cabbage, endive and leeks. Given the association of processed meats to cancer (as well as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and the fact that vegetable consumption has clear health benefits, the authors of the AJCN paper wrote: “It is reasonable to conclude that all food sources of nitrate and nitrite are not equal with regard to potential health benefits or risks.”

Dietary factors that are strongly associated with heart health include eating nuts, vegetables and monounsaturated fats while avoiding fatty animal foods. Whole grains, fruit and fiber may also be protective. No health organization has suggested that processed meats are good for you. If it turns out that nitrites have a role in a healthy diet—and researchers in this area note the need for more studies—they can easily be obtained from heart-healthy vegetables. It is unlikely that health professionals will be advising people to consume cancer-causing meats like hotdogs and bacon.