Eating a hot dog could shave over 30 minutes off your life, study claims

Most of us are aware that while we might enjoy a hot dog or a slice of pizza, it's not the healthiest choice - but we're okay with that.

However, you might want to reconsider, as the quick decision between a hotdog and a plate of veggies could already be shortening your lifespan. Researchers have now pinpointed exactly how much time popular ultra-processed foods shave off our lives. Nutritionist Luis Alberto Zamora cited a study by the University of Michigan during a TV segment.

Shockingly, they found that each hot dog consumed costs an average of 36 minutes of lifespan, while cured meats like prosciutto could cost you 24 minutes. Fancy a soda to wash it down? Sadly, that'll cost you an additional 12 minutes.

Hotdogs pose a particularly high risk due to their preservatives nitrites and nitrates. But it's not all doom and gloom, as scientists also discovered that eating certain types of fish could add 28 minutes to your life, reports the Express US.

The study ranked over 5,800 American foods, analyzing the health costs of ultra-processed foods and fruits and vegetables based on their additives, fats, calories, and sugar content.

It's no shocker that munchies like hotdogs, pizza, and mac and cheese might dock minutes off your lifespan, but the good news from researchers is that fresh fruits, veggies, and even PB&J sandwiches could help you live longer. By swapping out just 10% of daily calories from beef and processed meats for fruits and veggies, you could tack on an estimated 48 minutes of life, suggest the study leads.

Dr. Olivier Jolliet, the mastermind behind the research, stated, "The urgency of dietary changes to improve human health... is clear. Our findings demonstrate that small, targeted substitutions offer a feasible and powerful strategy to achieve significant health and environmental benefits without requiring dramatic dietary shifts."

With nearly three-quarters of grub in the US being ultra-processed, chock-full of additives and sketchy ingredients, the alarm bells are ringing. UPFs have got a rap sheet with ties to over 30 conditions, including a slew of cancers and premature death, recent studies reveal.