Processed Meats May Increase The Severity Of Asthma

Many studies and health professionals point to the dangers of processed meats which include bacon, sausages, salami and hot dogs. A higher intake of processed meats has been linked with a susceptibility to heart disease, high blood pressure and bowel and stomach cancer. Now, a new study suggests that processed meats may also worsen asthma symptoms. 

The Study 

The study, which was published in the French journal, Thorax followed 1000 people over the span of a decade. Approximately half were asthma patients. 

The researchers monitored the participants intake of processed meats as well as judged the severity of asthma by observing symptoms like breathlessness, wheezing and chest tightness. 

Results indicated that people who had asthma and who ate more than four portions of processed meat a week (a portion can be one sausage or two slices of bacon) were 76% more likely to suffer from more asthma related symptoms. As for those without asthma, the study suggested that higher intakes of processed meats can lead to a higher susceptibility to developing the condition. 

“Higher cured meat intake was associated with worsening asthma symptoms over time,” the study concluded. “This research extends the deleterious effect of cured meat in health, and the effect of diet on asthma in adults.”

The Logic 

The researchers suggest that a preservative called nitrate, which is commonly used in processed meats could be to blame for the asthma correlation, as nitrate has been found to aggravate airways. 

Additionally, it’s important to note that people who eat high levels of processed meats may have unhealthier diets in general. They are therefore more likely to be obese, a condition which has also been found to aggravate asthma as it obstructs breathing. 

In a BBC article on the study, Dr Erika Kennington, Head of Research at Asthma UK says: “Although certain foods can be triggers for allergies in some people, there is no specific dietary advice to manage asthma symptoms generally. For most people with asthma, healthy eating advice is exactly the same as it is for everyone else: follow a balanced diet that includes plenty of fresh and unprocessed food and is low in sugar, salt and saturated fat.”