Skip the Sausage, But Steak's OK: Docs

Processed meats linked to elevated risk of heart disease, diabetes
By Marie Morris,  Newser Staff
Posted May 17, 2010 7:00 PM CDT
Skip the Sausage, But Steak's OK: Docs
Bacon, sausage, and other cured meats are associated with elevated risk of developing heart disease.   (?Rusty Boxcars)

People who eat unprocessed meats are at lower risk of developing heart disease and diabetes than people who consume processed meats such as sausage, hot dogs, salami, and bacon, researchers say. Analysis of studies involving more than 1 million subjects suggests that each 50 grams, or less than 2 ounces, of processed meat eaten per day raised the risk of developing diabetes 19% and the risk of developing coronary artery disease a whopping 42%, Reuters reports.

"People should not use this finding as an excuse to eat all the unprocessed meat you like," the lead researcher tells the Boston Globe. "We know fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fish are associated with lower risk. People should put more emphasis on increasing foods in their diet that are shown to be protective."
(More meat stories.)

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