The telomere is a region of repetitive DNA at the end of chromosomes. Each time the cell divides the telomere gets shorter, which limits the number of timies the cell can divide and is thought to be a factor in cellular aging. There are some companies that are researching how to extend telomere length as a mechanism for extending human longevity.
A study published in the latest issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition looked at telomere length and its relationship to diet. People who ate processed meat (hot dogs, salami, etc.) had significantly shorter telomeres than those who did not (http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/88/5/1405?etoc). This type of meat is actually mostly fat, very high in salt, and also typically has nitrates and artificial colors. The best meat comes from wild game or grass-fed animals, not factory-farmed grain-fed animals, and certainly not from processed cold cuts or hot dogs.
