Processed Meat Worsens Asthma Symptoms

A new study published in scientific journal Thorax links the consumption of processed meat to exacerbating symptoms associated with asthma. Researchers in France studied 971 asthmatic participants over a period of seven years and found that those who consumed the most processed meat—four or more servings per day—reported a 20-percent increase in symptoms. According to researchers, the high content of nitrates found in processed meat causes inflammation leading to the constriction of airways. “This research extends the deleterious effect of cured meat on health,” researchers concluded, “and the effect of diet on asthma in adults.” Recent research has linked the consumption of animal products to many ailments including increased risk of heart disease, certain cancers, and obesity.