Cardiologists Agree: The Worst Processed Meats You Have To Stop Buying Because They’re Linked To Heart Issues
February 24, 2025 by Faith Geiger
Your diet is an undeniably vital part of your overall wellbeing—and that includes your cardiovascular health. The good news is that there are plenty of tasty, heart-healthy foods to add to your plate on a regular basis and keep your cardiovascular system in great shape. However, many of our favorite foods can also be detrimental to the health of our hearts. This is especially true of processed meats, which are high in sodium and saturated fats—two major culprits of cardiovascular disease.
To learn about a few of the worst processed meats for your heart, we spoke to cardiologists Dr. Michael Ross MacDonald from The Harley Street Heart and Vascular Centre, Leonard Ganz M.D., chief medical officer and divisional vice president of medical affairs at Abbott’s cardiac rhythm management business, and Dr. Raed Bargout, a cardiologist at Dignity Health-Glendale Memorial Hospital in Glendale. According to these experts, bacon, hot dogs, and deli meat should be avoided as much as possible. Learn more about the risks of each below.
1. Deli Meats
In addition to red meat, another major culprit of heart disease to be wary of is deli meat. These are among the least healthy processed meats and are packed with additives that could take a toll on your overall health—especially your heart.
As Dr. Bargout says, "Processed deli meat is on the top of the list for food that can increase the risk of cardiovascular events including heart attacks and stroke." Lean meats like turkey and chicken make a great alternative.
2. Hot Dogs
Hot dogs are an undeniably delicious and popular treat—especially when summer rolls around and cookouts become a frequent occurrence. However, the unfortunate truth is that they're a terrible choice for your heart, and eating them in excess could raise your risk of heart disease.
MacDonald cites hot dogs as one of the worst processed meats for your cardiovascular health, noting that they're "high in saturated fat and sodium, which can all contribute to the development of heart disease." Yikes! "Saturated fats increase the risk of plaque buildup in arteries, narrowing them and restricting blood flow," he explains.
Meanwhile, sodium is associated with a number of health issues, especially in terms of heart health. "Sodium leads to fluid retention, which can strain the heart and elevate blood pressure, further increasing the risk of cardiovascular complications," MacDonald says.
3. Bacon
As delicious as bacon is, MacDonald calls it out as one of the worsts meats for your heart health. Just as with hot dogs, this delicious but detrimental breakfast food is packed with saturated fats and sodium.
Ganz seconds the sentiment that red meats like this should be avoided as much as possible if you want to reduce your risk of heart disease. "Red meats are high in saturated fats, which can adversely affect the lipid profile," he says. "Recent research suggests that when bacteria in the gut break down meat, one of the metabolites produced is TMAO, which may increase the risk of heart and kidney disease, as well as type 2 diabetes. In particular, processed meats such as bacon and sausage have nitrates, which may increase inflammation and sodium, ultimately raising blood pressure that may be associated with inflammation." Say it ain't so!