Cured meats such as Serrano ham and other cold cuts contain nitrites that produce reactive nitrogen species that damage the tissues of the lungs. According to a Spanish study published in the European Respiratory Journal , these effects are especially noticeable in those who suffer from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) , who suffer an increased risk of being admitted to hospital due to exacerbation of respiratory symptoms if they consume more than 20 grams a day, every day, of these cured meats.
COPD is a disease characterized by difficulty in passing air through the bronchi, causing a choking sensation and a cough. The authors of the new study, members of CREAL (Center for Research in Environmental Epidemiology), assure that although quitting smoking and exercising are more relevant habits to reduce COPD symptoms, a moderate or occasional intake of cured meats would also eliminate excess risky.
In Spain, it is estimated that more than 18,000 people die each year from COPD, being the fifth cause of death in men (60 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants) and the seventh in women (17 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants). However, these figures increase year after year because our country is at the forefront of Europe in adolescent smoking and occupies the first places in the world in smoking associated with women.
