Scientists, seemingly determined to prove that every delicious food or beverage is a killer in disguise, have turned their attention to innocent beef jerky, who never did anything to anyone except maybe induce mania in rats and humans.

After surveying Baltimore psychiatric patients about their diets, Johns Hopkins researchers found that those who had reported eating cured meats were more than three times more likely to be treated for mania than other patients. According to The Atlantic, the scientists followed up with tests on rats, and found that the rats given beef jerky snacks showed an increase in excited behavior and slept irregularly — the rat version of a manic episode.

The research team, which includes neurovirology professor Robert Yolken, theorizes that this was caused by the effects of nitrates, preservatives commonly used in cured meats:

The study is far from conclusive, and its researchers point out that it’s still too early to warn against eating nitrates. But plenty of research already supports the fact that processed meats can cause cancer, so either way, it’s a rough day to be a jerky lover.

From: Esquire US

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