Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest

Takeru Kobayashi - Joe Chestnut

Okay, so today is Independence Day and there will be fireworks and parades around the country galore! I hope you take full advantage of one or both of these. I know several towns are having all day affairs and even weekly events-which will probably be my next blog.

But I have decided to go in a little different direction. The Hot Dog Eating contest held on Coney Island and sponsored by Nathan's is held every year around this time was won by Joe Chestnut. The past year's winner Takeru Kobayashi had tied previously with Mr. Chestnut but lost in a 5 dog overtime-or whatever you want to call it.

First prize was $10,000. Joe Chestnut said, "He wanted it, but I needed it."

It was the first time in memory that competitive eating had gone into overtime, according to Richard Shea, one of the founders of International Foundation of Competitive Eating.

Unfortunately, it's been reported that hot dogs are very unhealthy for you according to Dr. Marc Siegel, a professor at New York University School of Medicine.

"Hot dogs are extremely unhealthy, especially when eaten at high volume," he said. "They're really processed, they have high cholesterol and too much salt."
And thanks to the quantities the competitors ate, they'll likely suffer nausea, bloat, headache, and possibly high blood pressure for several days as the body slowly digests the food.
"One is bad for you, five's worse and 50 is terrible," he said.
Luckily for the svelte first and second-place winners, being in better shape helps in digesting the food.
And any gastrointestinal woes won't deter Kobayashi. He says he'll be back for a rematch next year. Before that, the two will face off again at the Krystal Square Off World Hamburger Eating Championship Sept. 28 in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Now hamburgers, that's another story altogether!

Please have a happy and safe Fourth of July!

Cheers!!

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