Lie #3: No nitrates or nitrites = a healthier hot dog.

The truth: The cancer-promoting preservative compounds are undoubtedly found in conventional hotdogs, but the truth is they're found in natural and organic dogs, too. Conventional food manufacturers typically use synthetic compounds, while organic producers use a process that includes celery juice or celery seeds and bacteria, which results in varying levels of the same unhealthy ingredients. Organic and natural food producers are limited in the language they can use on the label, usually resorting to the United States Department of Agriculture-approved "uncured" or "no nitrates or nitrites added" claims.

Eat this instead: If you're hankering for the occasional hot dog, look for makers of organic and grass-fed products so that the health benefits—more beneficial fats and no antibiotic, hormone, or pesticide residues—help level out the ill effects of nitrates.