According to a new study, eating processed meats like hot dogs, bacon, sausage and deli meat increases the risk for heart disease and diabetes compared to eating unprocessed red meats like beef and lamb.

In a newly published analysis of 1,600 studies, researchers found eating the equivalent of one hot dog per day or 1.8 ounces of processed meats i. e. a few strips of bacon, a hot dog or smoked sausage, either smoked, cured, salted, or preserved using chemicals called nitrates, raises the risk of heart disease by 42% and diabetes by 19%.

The study published in Circulation looked at 20 studies involving over one million participants from 10 different countries. However, the culmination of studies examined found eating unprocessed red meat like steak, burgers and roasts did not seem to carry the same risks.

The researchers found unprocessed meats, whether beef or pork did not have any effect on the risk of heart disease or diabetes, even though the amounts of saturated fat and cholesterol are nearly equal in both processed and unprocessed meats, both a contributing factor for heart disease and stroke. However, processed meats contain around four times the amount of sodium and preservative, which may explain the findings.

According to data based on a 2005-2006 United States National Health and Nutrition Examination survey, on average a 50 gm serving of red meat contains around 127 mg of sodium, while the same serving amount of processed meat contains about 575 mg of sodium.

The have been studies that have associated heavy consumption of red meat with a shorter life span, including a higher risk of diabetes, colon cancer, and cardiovascular disease, but it does not mean one has to give up red meat completely.

Nor, is the study enough to suggest people should stop eating processed meat, or to exonerate red meat from health risks similar to those processed meat, as the study data is inconclusive.

According to Joan Salge Blake, a registered dietician and Clinical Associate Professor at Boston University’s Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, current USDA guidelines suggest eating meat in moderation, limiting intake of lean meats, fish, or poultry to 6 to 7 ounces a day.

Further, one serving per week or less of processed meat, equivalent to perhaps one hot dog or two slices of deli meat, would constitute relatively low risk.