Cardiologists confirm that the foods we eat have a significant impact on heart health, especially with the increase in heart disease rates during the last decade.
However, it is not always possible to eliminate the foods that cause these problems, so moderation and portion control are key.
Doctors Sharon Hayes and Andrew Freeman share some foods to avoid as much as possible:
sausage
- Experts have explained that processed meats such as sausage, which are high in calories, saturated fat and salt are all bad for the heart.
Salted potato chips
- Doctors advised to stay away from the small bags of salty and crunchy potatoes.
- High salt consumption can lead to high blood pressure, and high blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke.
Sugar
- Keep your consumption of sweets to a minimum.
- Eating a lot of sugar can contribute to an increased calorie count, which can lead to weight gain.
- Being overweight increases your risk of health problems such as heart disease, some types of cancer, and type 2 diabetes.
Lots of protein
- A recent study found that men who ate a high-protein diet increased their risk of heart failure by 33 percent.
- Protein meals that come from meat are often high in saturated fat, which may raise cholesterol levels.
- Most adults need regarding 0.75 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day.
- That’s regarding two servings of meat, fish, or nuts.
Coconut Oil
- Many people mistakenly believe that coconut oil is a healthy alternative to fat, when in fact it contains significant amounts of saturated fat.
- Dr. Andrew suggests that people use it as a moisturizer but keep it out of the kitchen.