Hot Dogs And Other Processed Meats Are Even Worse For You When Grilled

This is a buzzkill. We knew that eating processed meats wasn't the healthiest thing for us. Did you know that they're even worse when grilled? That includes hot dogs and brats. Not what we want to hear as we gear up for our 4th of July cookouts.

Dr. Frank Hu, a nutrition professor at Harvard, told The Grio that most health experts agree "processed meats are more harmful than non-processed meats." Grilling processed meats adds to the health risks due to the high heat forming additional carcinogenic effects. Those health risks include colorectal cancer, Type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

If you do a lot of summertime grilling like I do, you might want to switch up your menu. I may grill more salmon and vegetables after learning this information. Here are some of the processed meats that pose the highest health risks:

Memorial Day weekend and summer are almost here. Let the grilling begin! Of course, for some us, the grilling never stops. That's one of the nice things about our weather in the Carolinas. We can cook our food outdoors practically year-round. The question is, what are your go-to grilling foods?

According to a survey of 3,000 U.S. adults conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Tabasco Brand, these are America's favorite foods on the grill: