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Consumption of deli meats would be bad for asthma

Crisis in the world of charcuterie! After being described as a carcinogen by the WHO, sausages, ham, rillettes and other sausages are also harmful to the respiratory system and aggravate asthma symptoms according to an INSERM study (carried out on 971 people between 2003 and 2007 and over a second period between 2011 and 2013). Thus, the researchers are unanimous:the consumption of deli meats must be limited.

Cough and shortness of breath

The WHO recently classified deli meats as "carcinogenic to humans (Group 1)". This new INSERM study, this time associates the consumption of deli meats at least 4 times a week with a worsening of asthma symptoms. The study, carried out on people aged 43 on average, explains that the high content of nitrites gives charcuterie addictive properties that lead to inflammation of the respiratory tract. High amounts of salt and saturated fats are also believed to cause these adverse effects. The study also specifies that products sold at lower cost are the most affected. Thus, 20% of people eating between 1 and 3 servings a week complained of suffering from shortness of breath and saw the intensity of their asthma symptoms increase. Even people who ate just 1 serving a week had 14% complaining of the same symptoms (which vary from person to person and can manifest as a dry cough, wheezing, wheezing, 'a feeling of suffocation…).

A public health issue

Thus, taking into account various possible confounding factors (sex, age, etc.), the researchers explain that those who consume the most deli meats have a 76% increased risk of presenting asthma symptoms compared to those who eat the least. less. According to Dr. Zhen Li, “These findings expand on the deleterious effect of deli meats on health.” He thus advises to “quickly put in place public health messages aimed at limiting the consumption of charcuterie”. However, according to an interview with Hélène Lelong, general practitioner and epidemiologist, in Le Figaro, “depending on whether or not treatment is taken, the evolution of asthma symptoms is not the same. So treatment could be a potentially major confounding factor. »

Well, maybe we'll start to limit ourselves... Sniff!