Are there any good hot dog recipes? Can you eat hot dogs in moderation? Answers to your questions about hot dogs and health

Hot dogs are a staple of summer — it’s hard to go to a baseball game or barbecue without coming across at least one party where someone is grilling steaks. However, even though hot dogs may be very popular, most of us know that hot dogs are very high on the “not healthy” list. What most of us don’t know is why – and whether any type of hot dog is actually good for you.

Here’s what the experts are saying.

Why do hot dogs have such a bad reputation?

There are many different types of hot dogs on the market (including vegan ones), but let’s not talk about the traditional types, which are a mixture of meat, spices, flavors and preservatives. Different brands use different ingredients for their products, but typically, hot dogs are made from pork or a combination of beef and pork. (The fact that hot dogs are an amazing meat doesn’t help their cause much.)

Dietitian Michelle Routhenstein tells Yahoo Life that there are several reasons why hot dogs get a bad rap — and it’s because they’re “high in sodium, high in fat and… widely used preservatives.”

The methods used to make hot dogs often include curing and smoking, which can lead to the formation of nitrosamines, says Routhenstein. Nitrosamines are carcinogens — substances linked to cancer and heart disease because they cause inflammation and oxidative stress in the body, he says. Oxidative stress can lead to tissue and cell damage.

One study found that people who ate about 5 ounces of processed meat (or less than two hot dogs) each week had a 46% greater risk of death heart disease and a 50% increased risk of dying compared to those who don’t eat processed meat, Routhenstein notes. A standard hot dog is about 1.5 ounces.

Hot dogs also fall into the category of cooked meats along with ham, sausages, corned beef and biltong or beef jerky. “Animal-based hot dogs are classified as a group 1 carcinogen by the World Health Organization, which means that the scientific evidence that they cause cancer is as strong as smoking and asbestos,” nutritionist Kaytee Hadley tells Yahoo Life.

Are there any good hot dog recipes?

If you’re partial to traditional hot dogs, you might think turkey dogs are a better alternative. But that’s not the case, says Hadley. He says: “Eating red meat is more dangerous to people’s health than chicken in many ways, but that doesn’t apply to cooked meat like hot dogs.” “The negative effects are mainly caused by the way the meat is processed, not just what the meat comes from. The studies linking processed meat to cancer included chicken, so even though you may be getting a little bit of saturated fat, all the other risk factors are still there.”

Hadley says that hot dogs like those made by Impossible Foods may be a better choice, since “when plants are ground and cooked, they don’t produce the same toxic compounds as animal meat.” ”

Many other herbal medicines are also high in fat and sodium, and contain no cholesterol. “Take hot dogs, for example, which have 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 50% less fat and 45% less fat than an animal-based hot dog,” says Hadley. “plus 12 grams of protein per serving.”

Can you eat hot dogs in moderation?

Experts are divided on this issue. Hadley suggests that people limit the consumption of hot dogs “to special occasions, a few times each year,” because of the cancer risk associated with eating cooked meat, while Routhenstein suggests having hot dogs once a month or less.

However, nutritionist Stephanie Van’t Zelfden tells Yahoo Life that she likes her clients to adopt a more moderate diet, and says that a hot dog can be part of a “meal strengthening and balancing” in general.

“I consider a ‘healthy’ hot dog to be your favorite hot dog,” he explains. “Don’t feel like you have to choose a plant-based turkey or hot dog if you don’t like it — you’ll want something else because you won’t be satisfied.”

Instead, he suggests adding some healthy additions to your hot dog meal. For example, you can “add vegetables on top like a Chicago-style dog, or a side of fruit, vegetables or whole grains to get more nutrition in your hot dog.”

Routhenstein says it’s ultimately about “balancing the plate.” Although the occasional hot dog can be had, he recommends focusing on “low protein and complex carbohydrates” for the majority of your meals.