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Joey Chestnut won his 17th Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest on July 4, 2025, downing 70 1/2 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes. Yikes! A new study in Nature reveals that eating even one hot dog (or other processed meats, like salami, bacon or sausage) a day boosts your risk of Type 2 diabetes by 11% and colon cancer by 7% -- and drinking a 12-ounce soda a day also increases your risk of Type 2 diabetes by 8%. Do them together? Even riskier.

In fact, after analyzing 77 studies, the researchers concluded that no amount of processed meat is really safe. The study found that as little as two one-hundredths of an ounce to 2 ounces of processed meats makes you at higher risk for diabetes -- and a typical hotdog has 1.7 ounces of processed meats in it (along with other not-good-for-you additives!).

So, do yourself a favor and replace processed meats with lightly grilled or baked salmon and other fish, skinless poultry, and root vegetables. Then, quench your thirst with unsweetened iced tea or water. Also, ditch the white bread bun -- lettuce wraps are a tasty alternative.

Getting healthier is a process of weaning yourself off processed foods and opting for a plant-based diet that features whole, fresh veggies and fruits with lean animal proteins as a side dish. For more info on how unhealthy food choices can make you age faster and increase your risk of chronic diseases like heart failure and Alzheimer's disease, sign up for my free newsletter at LongevityPlaybook.com.

Health pioneer Michael Roizen, M.D., is chief wellness officer emeritus at the Cleveland Clinic and author of four No. 1 New York Times bestsellers. Check out his latest, "The Great Age Reboot: Cracking the Longevity Code for a Younger Tomorrow," and find out more at www.longevityplaybook.com. Email your health and wellness questions to Dr. Mike at questions@longevityplaybook.com.

(c)2023 Michael Roizen, M.D.

Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

(c) 2025 Michael Roizen, M.D. Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.