Nitrates and Nitrites From Animal Sources Increase Disease Risk While Plant-Based Sources Reduce Risk

Nitrates and nitrites are naturally occurring compounds found in both plants and animal foods, but a new study found notably divergent health outcomes based on their source. Researchers compared more than 50,000 people’s intake of nitrates and nitrites from different sources and found that the rates of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and death went up from animal sources, but plant sources reduced those risks.