Are hot dogs good for you — and which brands are the healthiest?
NY Post
It’s hot dog season — not to mention time for the 2024 Nathan’s eating contest — and footlong fans might be wondering which brand is the healthiest, if any.
While no one is likely seeking out hot dogs for wellness benefits, they’re not wholly bad for you if consumed within reason, according to one expert.
“They are still a food that can be enjoyed on occasion,” Healthline Nutrition Editor Lisa Valente, MS, RD, told The Post. “Hot dogs are always going to be a food you want to eat only once in a while since they are a processed meat that’s relatively high in sodium and saturated fat.”
In other words, maybe don’t enter too many hot dog-eating competitions. (Sorry, Joey Chestnut.)
Hot dogs are a processed meat product, and Valente explained that processed meats have been linked to cancer — the World Health Organization classifies processed meats as a carcinogen.
“Outside of the type of hot dog used, think about what surrounds the hot dog on your plate. If you can trade up to a whole wheat bun, that will add some fiber,” Valente said.
