Eating two bacon rolls per week could make you more prone to a heart attack or stroke

Eating a bacon or sausage butty in the morning or having one as a treat on a weekend is a normal occurrence in many households throughout the UK.

But doing do “could trigger heart attack or stroke”, according to new research.

Consumption of processed or red meat

The study included 29,682 people, and was taken over the course of three decades. It found that those who regularly consumed processed or red meat were more prone to an early death.

The report was published in peer-reviewed medical journal JAMA Internal Medicine, and included self reported diets over the previous year or month of 29,682 men and women, with an average age of 53.

Red meat includes beef, lamb, pork, veal and venison, whereas processed meat includes bacon, sausages, hot dogs, ham, salami, corned beef and pates. Poultry includes chickens, geese, turkeys and ducks.

Those in the study who ate two servings of poultry, red meat or processed meat a week were found to have a 3 to 7 per cent higher risk of cardiovascular disease.

However, consuming two servings of red meat or processed meat per week, not including poultry or fish, was linked to a 3 per cent higher risk of all causes of death.

‘It’s worth trying to reduce red meat and processed meat’

After the results of this study, researchers explain that the findings should urge people to reduce their consumption of processed meats.

Norrina Allen, Senior study author, said, “It’s a small difference, but it’s worth trying to reduce red meat and processed meat like pepperoni, bologna and deli meats.

“Red meat consumption also is consistently linked to other health problems like cancer.”