Scientists Calculate Eating a Hot Dog Takes 36 Minutes Off Your Life — But You Can Counteract It (3 photos)
We hear a lot about the dangers of fast food these days. While some brave souls seem to live on burgers alone, most of us accept that fast food staples like hot dogs are slow killers. That belief is backed up by endless research—such as a recent study conducted at the University of Michigan, where scientists calculated exactly how much time certain guilty pleasures take off a person's life. 
Researchers at the University of Michigan evaluated 6,000 different foods to measure their exact impact on human lifespan. It was no easy task, requiring the team to develop a standardized mathematical system specifically for the study. 
The team determined that just one gram of processed meat reduces a person's life by 27 seconds. A bacon sandwich inflicts far worse damage, taking away a full 26 minutes, while a cheeseburger costs 8.8 minutes. A 16-ounce glass of cola steals 12.5 minutes of your time. Even cheese—a seemingly harmless food—robs us of precious minutes.
But the real shocker is the toll taken by a standard hot dog. If you order one with "the works," this combination of frankfurter, bun, mayonnaise, and ketchup will cost you a staggering 36 minutes of life! Count up how many hot dogs you've eaten over the years, and marvel at your own appetite for self-destruction! 
It is not all doom and gloom, however—we can actually win those lost years back. The study revealed that certain foods actively extend your lifespan. A serving of nuts adds 26 minutes, perfectly offsetting a recently eaten bacon sandwich. A peanut butter sandwich made with natural peanut butter can add 33 minutes, while a portion of salmon adds 13.5 minutes. Other life-extending foods worth adding to your diet include beans, green tea, fruits, and vegetables.
