Processed Meat Consumption Linked to Cardiovascular Disease and Death

Consumption of processed meat is linked to cardiovascular disease and death, according to a study published online in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Researchers reviewed food intake records from more than 100,000 participants in the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) Study and compared heart disease and mortality with meat consumption. Those who ate more than 150 grams (e.g., one hot dog is about 50 grams) of processed meat per week increased their risk of heart disease and death by 46% and 51%, respectively, when compared to those who did not eat processed meat. These results support limiting processed meat intake for heart disease prevention.