How Many Minutes of Your Life Are Reduced by Eating a Hot Dog, Cheeseburger, or Drinking Soda?

He referenced a study from the University of Michigan, which revealed how much certain foods can shorten one’s lifespan.

According to Zamora, the study found that eating one hot dog can reduce your lifespan by an average of 36 minutes, and pairing it with soda can take away an additional 12 minutes.

However, not all the findings of the study were negative. Researchers discovered that consuming certain types of fish can add approximately 10 minutes to your life.

The study analyzed over 5,800 common foods and evaluated their health impacts based on additives, fats, sugars, and other nutrients.

While foods like hot dogs, pizza, and pasta were shown to reduce lifespan, healthier options like fruits, vegetables, and even peanut butter and jelly sandwiches were found to contribute to longer life expectancy.

The study also indicated that replacing 10% of daily calories from red meat and processed foods with fruits and vegetables could add 48 minutes to a person’s life.

Dr. Olivier Jolliet, the study’s lead researcher, stated that small dietary changes can provide significant health and environmental benefits without requiring drastic lifestyle adjustments.

Many of the foods we consume are ultra-processed and contain harmful additives that pose serious risks to our health.

Numerous studies have shown that diets high in ultra-processed foods are linked to over 30 different diseases, including some cancers and premature death.

The research examined a wide range of foods, from processed meats and sweets to healthier options like fish and vegetables.

Hot Dogs: The Most Harmful Food

Hot dogs were identified as the most harmful food, followed by processed meats like prosciutto, which shorten life by 24 minutes.

Breakfast sandwiches containing eggs ranked third, reducing healthy life expectancy by an average of 13.6 minutes per serving.

Hot dogs, in particular, pose greater risks due to nitrites and nitrates used as preservatives. These substances convert into compounds in the body that are associated with colorectal cancer.

Additionally, these foods are high in sugar and fat, which increase the risk of diabetes.

Bacon and cheeseburgers reduce lifespan by 6 and 9 minutes, respectively, and their use of red and processed meats heightens the risk of early death.

Some studies have linked these ingredients to cancer. Cheeseburgers are also often fried in vegetable oils, which may contain compounds like aldehydes that elevate cancer risks.

Artificial Sweeteners and Diet Sodas

Artificial sweeteners, such as aspartame used in diet sodas, could reduce lifespan by 12 minutes. However, a definitive link between aspartame and cancer in humans has yet to be established.

In contrast, plant-based diets and avoiding red and processed meats can reduce the risk of cancer and other diseases, ultimately increasing lifespan.

The study also highlighted peanut butter and jelly sandwiches as one of the healthiest food choices, adding 32 minutes to a person’s life.

Nuts and seeds ranked second, adding 24 minutes, while fruits came in third, contributing an additional 10 minutes.

Dr. Jolliet previously noted that the health benefits of peanut butter in these sandwiches outweigh those of jelly. Whole-grain bread might enhance these benefits slightly.

To conduct this research, the team developed a metric called the “Health Nutritional Index” to calculate the impact of each meal on minutes of healthy living.

This index was based on data from the Global Burden of Disease Study, which examined the effects of dietary choices on mortality caused by diseases.

The research coincided with new recommendations to reduce red meat consumption in dietary guidelines.

These guidelines suggest replacing red and processed meats with plant-based proteins, such as beans, chickpeas, and lentils, and limiting their overall intake.