Hot Dogs And Beer Are Bad For You, Study Reveals

A new report issued by the American Institute for Cancer Research and the World Cancer Research Fund reveals a shocking turn of events — eating an excess of processed meats and drinking lots of beer might not be good for your health.

Specifically, the report investigated colorectal cancer. Researchers found that eating hotdogs, bacon, and other processed meat regularly or drinking more than two alcoholic drinks daily may significantly increase your risk. Consumption of red meats and pork also had an impact on disease risk.

"Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers," says Edward L. Giovannucci, a professor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the lead author of the report. "This report demonstrates there is a lot people can do to dramatically lower their risk."

Among the actions people could take to reduce their risk of colorectal cancer was eating three servings of whole grains daily — the simple swap reduced risk by up to 17 percent. Additionally, physical activity, adequate consumption of fiber, and limiting processed and red meat proved to be effective.

None of these health recommendations sound new; and that's because they're not. "Many of the ways to help prevent colorectal cancer are important for overall health," says Giovannucci. We've really known them to be important to your health for quite some time.

If you have been paying attention to health news at all, it's likely you already know you should be limiting your daily meat and beer. Now, we just know it reduces this specific risk of cancer, too. Perhaps this study serves as just another insistent reminder of how we should protect ourselves from cancer with food.