The Scary Reason You Should Never Buy Premade Sandwiches, According To Health Experts

If you’re likely to grab a premade sandwich when choosing your lunch options–think again. There are scary health risks associated with the deli meat, condiments and other ingredients found in these ready-made hoagies and subs available in prepared food section of your grocery store. Here’s what the experts have to say about them:

“Deli meats contain lots of sodium, and eating deli meats can increase your risk of cancer and heart disease, NYC internist and gastroenterologist Dr. Niket Sonpal tells us. “You also put yourself at a higher risk for diabetes because some deli meats contain sodium nitrate, a preservative thought to damage the blood vessels and harden arteries.” Yikes!

READ MORE: The Scary Reason You Should Never Be Buying Premade Salads, According To Health Experts

“When the arteries harden, there is a shortage of oxygen and blood in various tissues of the body, and you are at an increased risk for developing blood clots,” he continues. “Premade sandwiches are also usually made with sugary bread and oily toppings, which can lead to an increase in blood sugar.”

“Deli meats generally contain a lot of sodium and are high in preservatives, which fresh meat does not have. Premade deli sandwiches can also have a negative impact because they often contain other condiments with high sodium content in addition to the deli meat. High sodium content is linked to high blood pressure and fluid retention,” Dr. Chris Airey, medical Director at Optimale and practicing physician with the NHS agrees.

READ MORE: This Is The Worst Item On The Menu At McDonalds, According To Employees

“Studies have linked high consumption of processed meats to cancers such as colorectal cancer,” he warns. “When the nitrates and nitrites used for curing deli meat combine with amines in meat, they form nitrosamines which can lead to inflammation and has been linked to cancer. Nitrates have also been linked to higher insulin resistance and atherosclerosis.”

But that’s not all–they can actually make you very ill if the meats contain listeria. “Deli meats can sometimes contain Listeria bacteria because of cross-contamination which can severely affect older people, people with weakened immune systems or pregnant women. It can cause fevers, diarrhea, nausea, muscle aches and in more severe complications lead to bacterial meningitis”