Sunday, August 16, 2026

Do hot dogs increase your risk of cancer? Gastroenterologist Dr Saurabh Sethi shares 8 foods he avoids as a gut doctor

Love grabbing a hot dog or packaged snack when you are hungry and short on time? While these foods may be convenient and satisfying, they can also contain processed meats, refined ingredients, added sugars and other additives that may not be ideal for your health when consumed regularly. In fact, highly processed foods and sugary drinks are often recommended as foods to limit rather than make a daily habit, as their effects on your health may build up silently over time. 

Dr Saurabh Sethi, a California-based gastroenterologist and hepatologist with 25 years of experience, who has trained at AIIMS, Harvard and Stanford universities, has shared eight foods he refuses to eat as a gut health expert. In an Instagram post shared on August 14, the gastroenterologist explains how regularly consuming these foods could negatively affect your health and why he chooses to avoid them. 

 

Emulsifier-heavy packaged foods

This includes foods containing artificial thickeners and emulsifiers like polysorbate 80 and carboxymethylcellulose, which are present in foods including certain packaged ice creams and processed baked goods. Dr Sethi highlights that “emerging evidence linking emulsifiers to gut inflammation and gut barrier disruption” makes them harmful additives that should be avoided. Next time to buy an ice cream, make sure to check the back label for these ingredients!

High-fructose corn syrup

High-fructose corn syrup is an artificial sweetener often present in condiments like ketchup and barbeque sauce. Dr Sethi recommends avoiding high-fructose corn syrup-laden products because they are “linked to liver fat accumulation” and can drive non-alcoholic fatty liver and other liver diseases.

Processed deli meats and hot dogs

Processed deli meats, including salami, sausages and other varieties preserved through curing, salting or smoking, can be harmful to your health when consumed regularly. These meats are commonly found in packaged and fast foods such as hot dogs, burgers and sandwiches, and are often high in calories, sodium and saturated fat while offering relatively little nutritional value. Moreover, Dr Sethi warns that processed meats rank high in “WHO Group 1 carcinogen classification for colorectal cancer.”

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posted by G S Iyer at 3:43 AM 0 comments

Tuesday, May 12, 2026

Foods Children Are More Likely to Choke On

Warnings are forever being issued to parents about which household items and toys are choking hazards to small children. We carefully read the labels, listen to news reports, and do our best to be vigilant about what the little ones are sticking in their mouths.

This should also include food. Since their airways are still small, young children are at greater risk of swallowing bits of food that are too large, which can lead to choking. Whether you’re feeding them, or they’re eating by themselves, accidents can easily happen. 

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, food accounts for half of choking incidents in small children. To help prevent this, they’ve highlighted which foods pose the biggest risk to children under the age of 4: 

1. Nuts Foods Children Are More Likely to Choke On
Nuts can easily get caught in a child’s airway due to their size. To add to this, tiny teeth might not be able to handle chewing whole nuts, so avoid giving them nuts altogether. Sometimes, the shells from the nuts can restrict airways too. Before giving your child nuts, you should wait until they’re well over the age of 4, can sit while eating, and have learned how to chew their food completely.

2. Candy 

Besides leading to cavities, hard candy such as lollipops send thousands of kids to the ER every year. Even a small piece can get stuck in a child’s throat. Avoid giving hard candy and marshmallows to your child until they’re over the age of 5 and can chew thoroughly. 

3. Grapes 

 Due to their size and slippery texture, grapes are a major choking hazard. Doctors suggest a no-grape policy for kids under 4 or cutting them into quarters before serving them to children. Similarly shaped foods like cherries should also be avoided at this age.

4. Hot Dogs

According to John Hopkins, one of the biggest threats to kids under the age of 3 is hot dogs - even if you cut them up. Choking on a small piece of hot dog can lead to hospitalization if you’re not careful. If you still want to give a small child hot dogs, make sure to cut them into thin strips. 

5. Meat and Cheese Chunks 

Like hot dogs, chunks of cheese and meat are difficult for growing toddlers to chew. Food should be diced so that it’s no larger than ½ inch, and your child should be supervised at all times while eating these foods. 

6. Peanut Butter 

 Nut butters can get stuck to the roof of the mouth and the throat. For kids under 2, skip the globs of peanut butter and other nut butters. When serving to toddlers, spread a thin layer of it onto bread or crackers. 

7. Gum 

Chewing gum can cause dangerously sticky situations for small children. They’re prone to trying to swallow it or accidentally inhaling it while chewing. Don’t give gum to small children at all. 

8. Veggies and Fruits
Vegetables should be cooked until soft, and cut into small pieces that are no larger than ½ inch in size. It’s suggested to avoid stringy veggies such as celery or string beans altogether. Chunks of raw vegetables or fruits, such as carrots or apples, should be avoided until the children have learned to chew. 

9. Popcorn 

Popcorn shouldn’t be given to children until they’re at least 4. Many toddlers and infants have to visit the ER each year due to kernels getting lodged in their airways.

 

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   


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posted by G S Iyer at 1:28 AM 0 comments