If you're grilling up hotdogs today, give the steak to Dad as new research reveals it's a much better choice health wise than those frankfurters.
It's also a much better choice than salami, according to a new study that warns a diet heavy in processed red meat isn't a good thing for the hart.
Swedish researchers claim eating processed red meats on a regular basis could spike the risk of heart failure and death from a heart-related issue.
The study claims men who eat 2.6 ounces of red meat daily face a 28 percent increase of having heart failure and double the risk of death from heart failure compared to those who eat under 1 ounce of meat daily.
"Heart failure is one of the most common, costly and deadly cardiac conditions," said a spokesman for the American Heart Association (AHA). The AHA estimates there will be 800,000 new cases of heart failure in the U.S. this year and half of those diagnosed with heart failure will die within five years.
"Smoked and grilled meats also contain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, all of which may contribute to the increased heart failure risk," study co-author Alicja Wolk, of the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, said in a journal news release.
"Unprocessed meat is free from food additives and usually has a lower amount of salt," she added.
The research team collected data over 37,000 men, ages 45 to 79 years old that had no history of cancer, heart failure or heart disease. Participants were surveyed regarding lifestyle and diet.
Of those participating nearly 2,900 men were diagnosed with heart failure and 266 died from the condition. Researchers claim heart failure risk increases 6 percent with every 1.7 oz of processed consumed on a daily basis and the risk of death from heart failure spiked 38 percent.
The research did not show any association between unprocessed red meat such as beef or pork.
The research was published online in Circulation: Heart Failure. The study recommends men avoid processed red meat and have only one to two servings of unprocessed red meat a week.
"Smoked and grilled meats also contain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, all of which may contribute to the increased heart failure risk," study co-author Alicja Wolk, from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, said in a journal news release.
"Unprocessed meat is free from food additives and usually has a lower amount of [salt]," she said.
