Before You Eat Your Next Hot Dog in Illinois, Read This

For a lot of Illinois families, summer just isn't complete without firing up the grill and throwing on a few hot dogs. Whether it's a backyard bbq, a baseball game, or neighborhood cookout, hot dogs are a summer food we all love.

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But health experts are saying it's worth knowing about one potential downside before processed meats a regular part of your diet.

Before You Eat Your Next Hot Dog in Illinois, Read This

According to organizations including the American Cancer Society and the World Health Organization, regularly consuming processed meats, like hot dogs, bacon, sausage, deli meats, and pepperoni, has been linked to an increased risk of colorectal cancer. Processed meats are meats that have been preserved by smoking, curing, salting, or adding chemical preservatives to extend their shelf life or enhance the flavor.

That doesn't mean eating a hot dog at your next cookout is guaranteed to cause health problems. Instead, experts say the concern comes from eating processed meats over a long period of time. The more processed meats you consume, the greater the potential increase in risk.

"a new Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine/Morning Consult survey finds that while nearly half of Americans say they eat hot dogs two or three times each month, nearly 90% say they are unsure or unaware of the specific health risks associated with the consumption of processed meat." [pcrm]

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers diagnosed in the US, but it's also one of the most preventable. Doctors recommend maintaining a balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits, veggies, whole grains, and lean proteins while limiting processed meats whenever possible.