Processed Meat Linked to Cardiovascular Disease & Diabetes

This is the first study done that shows that processed meat not unprocessed meat can increase one's risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes.  The study in Circulation May 2010 shows that eating 50 grams of processed meat such as a hot dog or two slices of deli meat increases one's risk for cardiovascular disease by forty two percent and increases one's risk for diabetes by nineteen percent.  Red meat and processed meats have the same amount of saturated fats and cholesterol but processed meat has four times the amount of sodium and fifty percent more preservatives such as nitrites than unprocessed red meat.  Processed meats included smoking, curing and salting.  Processed meats have also been associated with increasing blood pressure because of the sodium content and nitrate preservatives have been shown to promote atherosclerosis and reduce glucose tolerance. With a forty percent increase risk of heart disease with 50 grams or less than two ounces which is easily eaten for one meal one can double their risk for heart disease. 

This study does not suggest that unprocessed red meat is healthy.  Unprocessed red meat is loaded with cholesterol and saturated fat thus also increases one's risk for heart disease and high cholesterol.