Hotdogs and Processed Meats

I love hotdogs ever since I was a kid. When there was no daing (dried fish) or tapa (fried marinated beef or pork slices) that went long with sinangag (fried rice), hotdogs and bacon were always the ready alternatives.

Kids and adults were always tempted with delightful TV ads from this brand and its closest rival. On weekends and lazy Sunday afternoons, a trip to this eatery was a sure agenda. If you still love hotdogs and processed meats, here's some bad news for you...

Hot Dogs Raise
Risk of Pancreatic Cancer --- Study
LOS ANGELES --- A diet containing lots of processed meats, like hot dogs and sausages, raises the risk of pancreatic cancer, according to a large multiethnic study unveiled on Wednesday.

The researchers found that heavy consumers of processed meats --- 40 grams a day or more --- were 67 percent more likely to develop cancer of the pancreas than study participants with the lowest intake.

In addition, a diet rich in pork and red meat --- 70 grams a day or more --- also increased pancreatic cancer risk by about 50 percent, according to the survey-based study.

[Reuters Health, 20 Apr 2005, 06:11 PM ET]

The Hawaiian researchers also noted that the "link could be the way meat is prepared, rather than its fat or cholesterol levels."

Easy on those hotdogs. And take this wise tip from Prof. Tim Key, the Deputy Director of Cancer Research UK's Epidemiology Unit:

"Smoking remains the only confirmed cause of pancreatic cancer.
A diet rich in cereals, fruits and vegetables has overall health benefits and probably has protective benefits for some common cancers, such as bowel cancer."

Want more information on pancreatic cancer? Click here.