As delicious as they may be, hot dogs have earned a well-deserved bad health rap in recent years. According to Mother Nature Network, hot dogs and other processed meats — like bacon, sausage, ham and lunch meat — have significant health risks due to their levels of nitrates. Hot dogs and processed meats been linked to an increased risk of some cancers, as well as obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Yet despite the studies and the warnings, new research finds that U.S.